Cargo theft rings are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using stolen business identities, hacked e-mail accounts and inside information about shipments to pinpoint high-value loads they can steal and quickly resell.
These tactics are proving effective. While the number of cargo thefts fell sharply in the second quarter of 2026, the value of stolen freight more than doubled, according to Verisk CargoNet. The firm recorded 677 theft incidents in the U.S. and Canada, down 26% from the same period in 2025, but estimated losses surged to $304.6 million from $135.7 million.
For companies with fleets, the stakes are growing. Criminals are increasingly attacking the entire chain of information used to book and move freight, and a company can lose a load without a thief ever breaking a lock.
As the average loss per cargo theft reached $564,000 in the second quarter, fleet operators need controls to verify carriers, drivers and shipping instructions as well as physical safeguards for their trucks and trailers.
How the schemes work
Traditional cargo theft typically involves stealing an unattended loaded trailer or container. Those thefts still occur, particularly at truck stops, warehouses and distribution centers, but organized rings are increasingly using fraud and cybercrime to steal freight without arousing suspicion.
Business e-mail compromise is one of their main tools. Criminals who hack the e-mail account of a broker, carrier or shipper can see shipment information, communications and contacts and may gain access to transportation management systems. They can then identify valuable loads, impersonate legitimate parties and alter pickup or delivery instructions.
Cargo theft schemes include:
Carrier identity theft — Criminals steal the identity of a legitimate carrier or create nearly identical e-mail domains to obtain loads. Some acquire existing motor carriers with legitimate U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) operating histories and use those credentials to book freight they never intend to deliver.
Re-brokering and diverting shipments — Criminals fraudulently obtain loads and re-broker them to legitimate carriers. Unsuspecting drivers pick up the shipments but receive instructions to deliver them somewhere controlled by the thieves.
Electronic document manipulation — Criminals alter electronic bills of lading and other shipment records. In some cases, they remove only part of a shipment, making the theft harder to detect immediately.
What thieves are targeting
The largest thefts are increasingly concentrated in commodities that combine high value with strong resale demand.
Metal thefts rose to 80 incidents in the second quarter from 54 a year earlier, according to CargoNet. Copper was the most frequently targeted metal, but criminals also stole aluminum, nickel, tungsten and other specialized industrial metals.
Enterprise-grade computers, networking equipment, components and cryptocurrency mining equipment are also targets. Despite being worth millions of dollars, these products are often transported as ordinary dry freight.
Food products remain attractive because they can be sold quickly. Seafood thefts increased during the quarter, and experts say organized rings also target olive oil and other food and beverage products.
Reducing your exposure
Fleet operators should use layers of physical and digital security rather than relying on a single control. Consider:
- Independently verifying motor carrier and DOT numbers before releasing freight.
- Requiring driver identification and confirming tractors and trailers at pickup.
- Verifying unexpected changes in pickup or delivery instructions through a separate, trusted communication channel.
- Training drivers, dispatchers and warehouse staff to recognize suspicious e-mails, altered domains and inconsistencies involving drivers or equipment.
- Using GPS tracking and high-security locks on high-value loads.
- Avoiding unsecured parking and minimizing the amount of time trailers sit unattended.
- Ensuring tracking devices and security systems are working before a shipment leaves.
Finally, review your insurance coverage with us. Technology-enabled theft can blur the lines between cargo, crime and cyber exposures, complicating how policy terms apply. Make sure your coverage reflects both the value of the freight you are hauling and the methods criminals now use to steal it.
