农夫导航

Cargo theft losses are also driving up costs for truckers. According to data from Verisk CargoNet, cargo theft surged 27% in 2024. The National 农夫导航 Crime Bureau predicts a further 22% increase in 2025, driven by criminal profitability, advanced technology implementation, and geopolitical tensions.

Logistics service providers are now seeing nearly an average of $2 million in cargo stolen from them annually, said Chris Spear, president and CEO of American Trucking Associations in an October blog. “That’s an eye-popping number, but the true cost goes far beyond the stolen goods,” he wrote. “It disrupts deliveries, raises insurance rates, and erodes trust in the supply chain. And ultimately, consumers see higher prices.”

Amwins’ Jennifer Nuest said that cargo theft is not new to the sector, but tactics have changed.

“Especially with what people are able to do from a tech perspective, much of it has to do with social engineering too, where they will either use DOT number or actually purchase DOT numbers from people to use,” she said.

“So, it looks like there’s a legit DOT number that’s going to be picking up a load. They will go with their own semi-tractor to pick up that load, and then they’ll actually broker it out to a legitimate carrier. They kind of wash the load throughout that. So, that can be very difficult to track.” Another tactic is modifying bills of ladings. “They’ll go in and modify bills of lading and show, for example, that 50 pallets were supposed to be delivered instead of 55; then they’ll steal five of the pallets off the load.”

“While cargo theft continues to be an increasing factor in motor truck cargo rates, the industry has an opportunity now to utilize new cheaper tech to track high value/high potential theft cargo,” said Burns & Wilcox’s Denis Brady. “The hope is that utilizing this technology trucking companies will be able to curb the impact that the rising cost of freight theft has been having on everyone.”

Topics Fraud Claims Personal Auto Trucking