Food and beverage is consistently one of the most stolen and vulnerable freight sectors. Why? Because perishables like produce, seafood, and dairy are easy to move and quick to sell, they’re prime targets for thieves looking to turn a fast profit. Understanding the unique risks tied to these commodities is essential for protecting your loads.
Key Statistics on Food & Beverage Cargo Theft
- Top Targeted Commodity: In 2024, food, beverage, and agricultural products accounted for 32% of global cargo theft incidents, making them the most stolen category worldwide (MHL News).
- Significant Increase in Thefts: Cargo thefts surged by 68% year-over-year in Q4 2023, with food and beverage freight leading this spike (FreightWaves).
- Average Loss per Incident: The average value per theft rose to $202,364 in 2024, up from $187,895 in 2023 (Food Logistics).
- Common Theft Methods: The most frequent tactics in the U.S. included theft of vehicles (22%), containers or trailers (16%), and fictitious pickups (15%) (MHL News).
With most cargo thefts never formally reported, these numbers only scratch the surface.
Why Food & Beverage Freight Is Especially Vulnerable
Not all freight faces the same level of risk. Food and beverage shipments are among the most frequently targeted and here’s why:
- Perishability: Items like produce, seafood, and dairy have short shelf lives, making them attractive for quick resale and difficult to trace once stolen.
- High Demand and Value: Inflation and supply chain volatility have increased the black-market value of F&B goods—including high-dollar items like olive oil, cheese, and coffee.
- Lack of Traceability: Unlike electronics or pharmaceuticals, most food items lack unique identifiers, making them harder to track and recover after theft.
- Strategic Theft Tactics: Criminals are increasingly using sophisticated methods like identity theft and fraudulent pickups to impersonate legitimate carriers.
Mitigating the Risks
Given these vulnerabilities, businesses moving food and beverage freight need security strategies built for speed, visibility, and identity assurance. Key areas to focus on:
- Enhanced Tracking: Real-time ELD tracking helps brokers verify location, route, and delivery timing—making it harder for bad actors to go dark after pickup.
- Thorough Vetting: Look beyond MC numbers. Confirm that carrier identity, contact methods, authority, insurance, and equipment all match the load requirements.
- Secure Facilities: Theft often occurs during brief pauses—like at warehouses, cross docks, or parking areas. Invest in secure, monitored locations for high-risk freight.
- Employee Training: Everyone from load planners to warehouse staff plays a role. Educate teams to spot signs of phishing, spoofed calls, or unauthorized pickups.
Why Timing and Tactics Matter
Strategic theft has matured into a global operation—and the freight fraud playbook now includes everything from fake carrier identities to spoofed phone calls. Bad actors know when and what to steal. Holidays, weekends, and late nights, when oversight is thinner, are prime windows for fraudulent pickups.
Produce theft isn’t random—it’s targeted. And while food moves fast, freight fraud moves faster. By understanding the specific risks associated with perishable freight and implementing targeted security strategies, businesses can better protect their shipments and mitigate potential losses.
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