Cargo theft is on the rise and causing big headaches for truckers and logistics companies across the country. In fact, theft of goods being hauled by trucks jumped 27% in 2024, according to Verisk CargoNet data. Experts warn it’s likely to get even worse next year, with the National Insurance Crime Bureau forecasting another 22% increase in 2025. They say criminals are getting smarter, using new tech and taking advantage of political tensions to boost their illegal profits.
Chris Spear, who leads the American Trucking Associations, pointed out that companies are losing nearly $2 million each year to stolen cargo on average. But that number only scratches the surface. “It shakes up deliveries, bumps up insurance costs, and makes customers less confident in the supply chain,” Spear said. All those issues eventually hit shoppers with higher prices at stores.
The way thieves operate has changed too. Jennifer Nuest from Amwins explained that technology now plays a key role. Thieves can trick people by stealing or buying trucking company IDs called DOT numbers. They use these to pretend they’re legit carriers, then pass the stolen loads through real trucking companies to hide their tracks. Another trick involves altering shipment paperwork to steal a few pallets without anyone noticing right away.
Despite the rise in theft, some experts see a silver lining. Denis Brady from Burns & Wilcox believes cheaper tracking technology could help stop thieves and lower the growing cost of stolen freight. If trucking companies adopt these tools, they might limit how much cargo theft disrupts the industry.
Still, with thieves using smarter methods and cargo losses climbing fast, truckers and their teams face a tough fight ahead to keep goods safe.