Freight Fraud Is Rising: Empowering Owner-Operators in a High-Risk Market

The freight industry runs on trust.

But that trust is under attack.

Freight fraud has evolved into one of the most pervasive threats facing trucking today. Identity theft, email spoofing, double brokering, fraudulent brokers, and load theft schemes are no longer rare incidents — they are daily realities.

And while headlines often focus on brokers, the truth is this: Carriers and owner-operators carry just as much operational risk. When fraud happens, carriers lose loads, don’t get paid, and lose relationships. The industry doesn’t move without carriers. And protecting them isn’t optional — it’s foundational.

Here’s how you can fight back.

‍

The Real Fraud Risk: Identity & Communication Compromise

‍

While regulatory data remains a reference point, the most damaging fraud events today rarely start with a single record change. Modern attacks typically involve a combination of compromised email accounts, spoofed phone numbers, and unauthorized access that allows bad actors to impersonate legitimate carriers across multiple touchpoints.

Common carrier-impacting fraud patterns include:

• Compromised or spoofed email accounts used to intercept rate confirmations or redirect communication
• Phone number spoofing to impersonate dispatchers or carrier representatives
• Ownership or authority changes leveraged to legitimize fraudulent activity
• Unauthorized access attempts from unfamiliar locations or devices

These attacks often occur quietly, without immediate visibility, allowing fraud to escalate before it is detected.

‍

How to Stay Protected Before It Costs You

‍

Fraud in trucking doesn’t just happen one way.

It can start in your inbox, happen over the phone, or even occur when someone logs into an account pretending to be you.

And sometimes, it’s not even about someone pretending to be you — it’s about you accidentally booking freight with someone who isn’t who they claim to be.

Here’s how it usually plays out:

• Someone hacks or copies your email and pretends to be your company
• They intercept rate confirmations and redirect a load
• A fraudster spoofs your phone number and calls a broker acting like your dispatcher
• Someone logs into an account from a suspicious location
• A fake broker posts a load that looks legitimate — but never pays

By the time you realize something’s wrong, the load is gone or the money isn’t coming.

‍

How Highway Helps Protect You

‍

Instead of waiting for something bad to happen, Highway watches for early warning signs, including:

• Strange changes to your company’s contact information
• New or unfamiliar logins
• Phone numbers that look spoofed or suspicious
• Activity that doesn’t match your normal patterns
• Brokers who don’t meet verification standards

If something doesn’t look right, you’re alerted early — before it turns into a stolen load or lost payment.

Highway also vets brokers, not just carriers. That means you’re less likely to haul for someone running a scam or double brokering freight.

You work too hard to have your business disrupted by fraud. This isn’t about complicated technology - it’s about protecting your truck, your loads, your reputation — and your paycheck.

‍

Grow Your Business with Highway for Carriers

‍

There is a reason that Highway requires continuous carrier verification and it’s not just to protect brokers. Carriers that meet Highway’s compliance standards gain access to additional tools and visibility.

A compliant carrier is:

• ELD-connected
• Identity verified
• Transparent about cargo policy exclusions
• Able to use the Highway Carrier Portal

Through the Carrier Portal, compliant carriers can:

• Vet brokers before hauling their freight
• See which brokers are credit approved
• Reduce payment and fraud risk before accepting a load

This transparency helps carriers protect their business proactively—not reactively.

Plus, you can now download the Highway for Carriers app, on iOS and Android.

‍

A Fraud-Free Environment on the Trusted Freight Exchange (TFX)

‍

Compliant carriers can also leverage the Trusted Freight Exchange (TFX)—at no cost.

TFX is designed to eliminate the most common fraud risks carriers face.

‍

Why TFX is More Secure for Carriers

• Brokers are vetted just like carriers
• Loads are surfaced directly from a broker’s TMS
• Only real loads are visible—no ghost loads
• No spam calls or fake bids
• Digital booking reduces impersonation risk

Carriers can:

• Book freight digitally with multiple brokers
• Post available capacity
• Get recommended to brokers whose lanes match their equipment and availability

TFX removes the noise and risk of traditional load boards and replaces it with verified, compliant transactions.

‍

The Bottom Line: Highway Is Looking Out for Carriers

‍

Fraud impacts the entire ecosystem—especially carriers, whose businesses, reputations, and livelihoods are directly on the line.

Highway reduces fraud exposure for carriers by:

• Monitoring FMCSA changes in real time
• Alerting carriers to suspicious activity
• Protecting against email and phone spoofing
• Vetting brokers to prevent double brokering
• Creating a secure, compliant digital freight exchange

The goal is simple: Give carriers the confidence to operate, grow, and haul freight in a more secure, fraud-resistant environment.

When carriers are protected, the entire freight network becomes stronger.

‍