Cargo theft isn’t anything new for the transportation industry. How thieves are going about it, though, is continuously changing.
Traditional cargo theft often brings to mind trailers stolen from parking lots, freight taken from unattended equipment, or goods disappearing somewhere along the route. Those risks still exist, but today’s bad actors are finding more sophisticated ways to target freight. They are impersonating legitimate carriers, taking over existing carrier identities, manipulating operating authority, double brokering loads, and studying the very processes companies use to prevent fraud.
That changes the conversation around carrier vetting.
A recent Transport Topics article, “Cargo Theft Starts Where Vetting Ends,” makes an important point: the transportation industry has invested heavily in carrier vetting, but criminals continue to look for vulnerabilities beyond those initial safeguards. The article reports that voluntarily reported cargo theft losses reached $725 million in 2025 and points to the dramatic rise of strategic theft in recent years.
Those numbers reinforce something our industry cannot afford to ignore. Vetting cannot simply be a box we check. It has to remain top of mind throughout our operations.
Active operating authority, valid insurance, safety records, and verified contact information all remain important. They help establish whether a carrier is legitimate and qualified to move freight. But criminals understand what brokers and shippers are looking for, and increasingly sophisticated schemes can make fraudulent operations appear legitimate on paper.
That is why the process cannot end once a carrier is approved.
We believe doing what’s right means taking the extra steps. When a carrier is entrusted with a customer’s freight, we have a responsibility to know who we are working with and remain vigilant throughout the shipment.
The people behind organized cargo theft are also learning how the transportation industry operates. They understand load boards, carrier onboarding, operating authorities, and many of the safeguards being used to combat fraud. As the industry adapts, so do they.
The Transport Topics article brings particular attention to what happens at pickup. A carrier may have been properly vetted, but another question remains: Is the person actually taking possession of the freight the driver who was authorized to do so?
That distinction is critical.
Verifying the carrier is one layer of protection. Confirming the identity and authorization of the individual taking custody of the shipment adds another. The article argues that this final handoff has become an increasingly important part of preventing strategic cargo theft.
Technology can certainly help.
Carrier vetting platforms, shipment tracking, identity verification tools, transportation management systems, and real-time visibility can help identify inconsistencies, flag suspicious activity, and provide logistics professionals with more information throughout a shipment.
But technology alone is not the answer.
Experienced people still have to know what they are looking at and be willing to ask questions when something does not add up.
Contact information suddenly changes. A driver arrives who does not match the information provided. Shipment details are inconsistent. Tracking unexpectedly stops. A request comes through that falls outside normal procedures.
There may be a reasonable explanation, but assuming there is one creates unnecessary risk.
Knowing when to stop, verify information, communicate with a carrier partner, or escalate a concern can make all the difference.
Our trusted carrier network is another important part of that process. Relationships built over time give our associates a deeper understanding of who they are working with and create stronger lines of communication when questions arise.
But trust does not replace verification. The two need to work in tandem.
Cargo theft is not going away, and the methods used to commit it will continue to change. The transportation industry has responded with better technology, more sophisticated vetting practices, increased shipment visibility, and greater awareness. Criminals, in turn, continue looking for the next vulnerability.
That cycle is exactly why we cannot become complacent.
Carrier vetting needs to evolve alongside the threat. That means looking beyond basic credentials, remaining vigilant after onboarding, paying attention at critical points like pickup, leveraging available technology, communicating with customers and carrier partners, and being willing to stop and verify when something does not add up.
Protecting our customers’ freight remains a top priority. Our associates combine technology, transportation experience, proactive communication, and our trusted carrier network to help identify potential risks and make informed decisions throughout every shipment.
The tactics are changing. We know our approach has to continue changing with them.
