Cargo Theft: What It Is, Types & How to Prevent It

Last Updated October 30, 2025

Cargo theft has become an increasingly costly and disruptive problem for logistics and trucking businesses. With an increasing number of criminals targeting shipments, business owners have been forced not only to prioritize protecting cargo but also to rethink safety measures altogether.

While preventing cargo theft altogether is difficult to achieve, you can greatly reduce the chances that your business will be affected.

To do this, you must first understand the different types of cargo theft, how it occurs, what makes freight companies vulnerable, and common cargo theft tactics.

What Is Cargo Theft?

Cargo theft occurs when criminals steal freight from commercial shippers. Cargo can be stolen from semi-truck trailers, shipping containers, freight trains, and warehouses.

These crimes can happen as a result of hijacking, deceptive pickup schemes, or theft from unsecured storage areas. The impact of cargo theft extends beyond financial losses, as it disrupts supply chains and damages the trust between carriers and clients.

What Are the Different Types of Cargo Theft?

There are four main types of cargo theft:

Straight Theft (Physical Theft)

The most straightforward form of cargo theft occurs when criminals physically steal goods before, during, or after a shipment.

Often a crime of opportunity, straight theft occurs when trailers or containers are unlocked and unsecured, such as at a rest stop or parking area.

Hijacking

A rarer form of cargo theft occurs when vehicles are outright hijacked. This is a more strategic and typically violent form of cargo theft. A trucker might be approached at a rest stop or even forced off the road and ordered to transfer the load to a different vehicle.

Fictitious or Fraudulent Pickup (Strategic Theft)

Fictitious pickup is essentially identity theft and is one of the most common forms of freight fraud. This occurs when someone uses false claims or false documents to trick a shipper or carrier into delivering the load to the wrong person or business. This typically involves someone posing as the trucking business that the goods are actually intended for.

Cyber Theft

Any form of cargo theft that occurs with the aid of cyberattacks is considered cyber theft.

Criminals may hack into freight systems, online portals, or business computers. Shipping instructions could be falsified either physically or, more commonly, digitally, leading carriers to deliver goods to the wrong place. These criminals are tech experts who have mastered cyberattacks like phishing, hacking, and data breaches.

Pilferage (Partial Theft)

When straight (physical) theft only leads to a portion of a load being stolen, it’s considered pilferage. This is a crime of opportunity where anyone, from employees to strangers, takes advantage of loose cargo and snatches a portion of a shipment.

Cargo Theft Statistics

Cargo theft has become increasingly common in 2025. The following cargo theft statistics highlight just how critical an issue this has become in the freight and logistics industries:

• According to Verisk CargoNet, the number of reported cargo theft incidents in the U.S. and Canada in 2024 reached 3,625, representing a 27% increase compared to 2023.
• The average loss per theft in 2024 rose to $202,364, up from about $187,895 in 2023.
• Approximately $454.9 million worth of goods were lost from cargo theft in the U.S. and Canada in 2024, up from $331.9 million in 2023.
• There were 2,217 cargo theft reports nationwide in 2024, marking a 49% increase compared to 2023.
• Cargo theft in the U.S. accounted for 41% of all global cargo theft claims in 2024, up from 30.4% in 2023.
• Most cargo is stolen directly from trucks (71%), followed by storage facilities and warehouses (24%) and railroads (2%).

By Industry

• Cargo theft is even more prevalent in certain industries, particularly those that require the transportation of valuable goods.
• Electronics were the most targeted product type in 2024, accounting for 24% of nationwide reports.
• Home and garden (10%) and food and drink (10%) were the next most impacted industries.

By Area

Freight hubs, large cities, and urban areas are hotspots for cargo theft. Reports show that California and Texas rank first and second nationwide for risk of cargo theft. Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Bakersfield, CA, are all hot spots. Cargo theft has also been rising in Memphis, Dallas, and Atlanta, all significant freight hubs.

Who’s Most Vulnerable to Cargo Theft?

If you’re transporting high-value goods, such as electronics, you are especially at risk of cargo theft.

However, loads that contain lightweight cargo that can be easily stolen, such as clothing, are also prime targets. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) notes that electronics, clothing, and medicine are seen as some of the most precious cargo and, therefore, the most common targets.

Because cargo theft most frequently occurs in areas with high population density and multiple freight hubs, it’s important for business owners and employees in these places to be extra vigilant. Work environments where there is steady commotion and a constant influx of people in and out are especially vulnerable to becoming cargo theft hotspots.

Smaller carriers or subcontractors who might not have the trucking business financing to invest in adequate security measures are also at a higher risk. It’s important for business owners to prioritize security, since hard work could all go to waste if cargo is stolen and cannot be recovered.

DOT Cargo Theft Crackdown

The DOT has launched a cargo theft crackdown initiative to help coordinate enforcement across federal and state agencies.

The report states that cargo theft has become a “growing concern,” costing the industry billions of dollars per year.

“Both categories [opportunistic theft and coordinated theft] create significant economic losses, disrupt supply chains, and in some cases fund broader illicit activities such as narcotics trafficking, counterfeiting, and human smuggling,” the DOT stated.

This program emphasizes collaboration between carriers, shippers, and law enforcement to reduce the impact of cargo theft on U.S. supply chains and enhance national freight security.

How to Prevent Cargo Theft

Learning how to reduce your chances of being impacted by cargo theft is a must. To do so, take these cargo theft prevention tips into consideration:

1. Invest in Real-Time Shipment Tracking Systems

Real-time tracking with GPS, telematics, and geofencing can provide complete transparency regarding your shipments. Automated alerts can notify you if a truck deviates from its planned route, stops unexpectedly, or if a trailer is accessed without authorization. Having this information allows you to respond quickly and potentially stop a theft before it happens.

Additional shipment tracking tips include installing GPS inside the trailer itself, along with geofencing alerts.

2. Verify Carriers, Drivers, and Brokers

Many modern cargo thefts are strategic and involve fraud, such as fake carriers or falsified dispatch orders. Verifying carriers and drivers before each pickup is essential. This includes checking identification, DOT or MC numbers, and confirming the assignment through known shipper contacts.

You can also require electronic proof of pickup with geotags to confirm the right driver collected the cargo. These measures make it much harder for criminals to trick your business.

3. Tighten Physical Security

Physical security is one of the most foolproof ways to reduce cargo theft. Use strong locks and tamper-evident seals on trailers, secure warehouses with gated access and CCTV cameras, and only park trucks in well-lit, secure areas.

It’s crucial to never allow your trailer to be unattended in unsafe locations. Investing in surveillance at warehouses and loading docks can also prevent both opportunistic and planned theft.

4. Manage Routes and Stops Carefully

Planning safe routes and controlling where drivers stop can greatly reduce risk. Avoid known high-risk areas, secure your trucks during overnight stays, and use different routes when possible so nobody can predict your movements.

Using risk maps and predictive analytics to identify dangerous corridors can help you make better decisions. One of the most beneficial impacts of AI in trucking has been the enhanced capabilities of these kinds of security measures.

5. Ensure Drivers Are Aligned and Informed on Preventing Cargo Theft

Reinforcing the importance of preventing cargo theft with drivers and any other employees is critical. This should include informing them about how to effectively respond to and report cargo theft, so your team knows what to do if something goes wrong. This not only protects your cargo but also helps mitigate any potential losses.

How to Recover Stolen Cargo

Recovering stolen cargo can be challenging, but acting quickly and following the right steps can increase the chances of getting your shipment back.

1. Report the Theft Immediately

As soon as you notice a theft, report it to local law enforcement. Though it might seem extreme, you should also file a report with the FBI and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The faster the authorities know, the better the chance of recovery.

2. Notify Your Business Partners and Insurer

Contact your logistics provider and insurance company immediately. Provide all shipment details, tracking information, and any suspicious activity you noticed. Quick notification allows them to start their own investigations and claims processes.

3. Allow Authorities to Use Your Tracking Systems to Locate the Shipment (If Possible)

If your shipment was equipped with GPS or telematics, share the data with the relevant authorities. Real-time tracking information can help law enforcement locate stolen trucks or trailers more quickly. Obviously, this stolen cargo recovery tip is only possible if you’ve implemented real-time shipment tracking systems in the first place, highlighting the importance of doing so.

4. Share What Happened With Industry Partners

Inform other carriers and freight security organizations, such as the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA Americas), about the theft. Sharing details helps prevent criminals from targeting other shipments and may even aid in recovering your cargo if you have industry peers willing to help you locate your shipment.

5. Conduct an Internal Review

After the incident, review your security and operational procedures. Identify how the theft occurred and what allowed it to happen. Updating training, procedures, and technology can prevent future incidents.

In-Summary: Cargo Theft

The importance of preventing cargo theft cannot be understated.

Cargo theft continues to rise in 2025, especially for high-value, easily transportable, and easily resold goods like electronics, clothing, and medicine. These criminals, who use both physical and strategic methods, can single-handedly derail a business’s operations and finances.

Preventing theft requires real-time tracking, verifying carriers’ identities, improving security measures, and implementing driver training. And if you ever find yourself thinking, “Why am I doing all of this?” just remember that it could save your business.

Michael McCareins

Michael McCareins is the Content Marketing Associate at altLINE, where he is dedicated to creating and managing optimal content for readers. Following a brief career in media relations, Michael has discovered a passion for content marketing through developing unique, informative content to help audiences better understand ideas and topics such as invoice factoring and A/R financing.