Cargo theft is becoming an increasingly sophisticated operation, with criminals constantly refining their tactics to exploit vulnerabilities in the supply chain. The threat can strike at any time, often during high-traffic periods or in locations with minimal security oversight.
Developing a proactive strategy—one that combines technology, education, and a structured response plan—is key to minimizing risks and maintaining a secure operation.
Targeted Commodities and Locations
Food and beverage, household goods and electronics rank as the top targeted commodities, because they are difficult to trace, have a low recovery rate, and collective contribution to an average cargo theft value of approximately $206,000.
The primary locations where theft occurs are warehouse distribution centers, truck stops and other logistics hubs. Rather than breaking into warehouses; fraudsters gain possession of freight through deceptive practices, picking up loads they are not authorized to transport.
The Global Landscape of Cargo Theft
Cargo theft is not just a domestic issue—it is influenced by bad actors operating internationally. Highway's fraud prevention data shows that nearly 10,000 carrier users from 75 different countries have logged into the platform. While many third-party dispatch services are legitimate, brokers must be cautious when working with international partners.
The top six non-U.S. countries involved in logins include Mexico, Pakistan, India, Serbia, and Moldova—underscoring the global scope of freight fraud.
Emerging Threats
Highway has identified over 45,000 email changes and 63,000 phone number changes within FMCSA records, with approximately 3% of these changes being fraudulent. These allow scammers to hijack a carrier’s identity, potentially leading to significant financial and operational losses.
Another emerging threat is VoIP fraud, where scammers manipulate caller ID information to impersonate legitimate carriers. Highway's VoIP fraud detection tool helps brokers identify fraudulent callers by verifying whether a phone number is legitimate, flagged, or unverified.
Steps to Prevent Cargo Theft From Happening to You
Given the increasing threats, the industry must take proactive measures to protect their businesses and supply chains. Here are some essential steps:
- Utilize Highway’s Carrier Identity® Solutions to verify emails and phone numbers before engaging with carriers.
- Monitor FMCSA record changes for potential identity manipulation.
- Stay informed about evolving fraud tactics and educate internal teams to recognize red flags.
- Implement a structured response plan in case of cargo theft to mitigate losses and increase recovery chances.
As theft continues to evolve, leveraging technology, staying vigilant and implementing a proactive plan, brokers and carriers can work together to mitigate the risk of cargo theft and enhance security industry-wide. Highway continues to lead the way in securing freight transactions, ensuring that brokers and carriers operate with confidence in an increasingly complex environment.
By understanding the latest fraud tactics and implementing a proactive response plan, you can better protect your business and the supply chain as a whole. Watch the full webinar below to gain actionable strategies that prevent cargo theft before it happens.
