Cargo Theft in Trucking: Common Schemes, Hot Spots and What to Do

Cargo theft in North America shifted toward fewer, larger heists in 2025: CargoNet recorded 2,646 confirmed cargo thefts in the U.S. and Canada, up 18%, with estimated losses near $725 million, up 60%. California had the most incidents, and California, Texas and Illinois together accounted for nearly 52% of cargo theft. Food and beverages, metals such as copper, and enterprise computer hardware were among the most targeted loads.

What are the main types of cargo theft?

Cargo theft falls into two broad groups: physically taking a loaded trailer or its contents, and tricking the shipper or broker into handing the load to the wrong truck.

The schemes that rely on deception are often called strategic theft. They need no break-in and leave a paper trail that looks normal until the load fails to arrive.

Which loads and states are targeted most?

CargoNet, the Verisk cargo theft database, publishes the most widely cited annual figures. Its report on 2025, released in January 2026, found:

• 3,594 supply chain crime events in the U.S. and Canada, roughly flat from 3,607 in 2024;
• 2,646 confirmed cargo thefts, up 18%;
• estimated losses of nearly $725 million, up 60%, with the average value per theft up 36% to $273,990;
• California as the most affected state with 1,218 incidents, and California, Texas and Illinois together at nearly 52% of all cargo theft;
• food and beverage thefts up 47%, with meat, seafood and tree nuts among the targets depending on region;
• metal thefts up 77%, driven by demand for copper products;
• enterprise computing hardware and cryptocurrency mining equipment becoming bigger targets while consumer electronics thefts fell;
• warehouses and distribution centers, and truck stops, as the leading theft locations.

CargoNet also reported rising theft in New Jersey, Indiana and Pennsylvania. It expected high-value technology parts such as memory modules and storage drives to stay prime targets in 2026. Its figures depend on reports from members and law enforcement, so they show trends rather than every theft.

What are the warning signs of a fictitious pickup or fake carrier?

Most fictitious pickups show at least one mismatch before the truck arrives. Brokers, shippers and carriers watch for:

• a carrier with recently activated or recently changed authority, or a sudden change of contact phone, email or address in FMCSA records;
• email addresses on free domains, or domains that differ by one letter from the real company’s;
• a carrier that accepts a high-value load at a rate well below market without questions;
• a driver whose name, truck number, trailer number or company markings do not match what the carrier gave;
• requests to change the delivery address, pay a different party, or pick up early;
• a tracking app that is never activated, or location data that does not match the route.

For broker-side checks, see how to check a freight broker. Carriers should also check their own FMCSA registration often, since a changed phone number or email on the record can be the first sign that someone has taken over the company’s identity.

How can drivers protect a load on the road?

Straight theft is often a crime of opportunity at the first stop after pickup. Common practices that carriers use:

1. Leave the shipper with enough hours and fuel to drive a few hundred miles before stopping, so the truck is not parked near the pickup point.
2. Park in well-lit, busy or secured lots, and avoid leaving a loaded trailer unattended in hot spots. Options for overnight parking are in truck parking rules.
3. Use high-security locks on trailer doors, kingpin locks on dropped trailers and glad-hand locks on tractors.
4. Keep load details private: no social media posts or radio talk about what you are hauling.
5. Keep GPS tracking on and check in with dispatch at agreed times.

What should you do if cargo is stolen?

1. Call local police right away and get a report number. Fast reporting gives the best chance of recovery, since stolen loads are often moved or split within hours.
2. Notify your carrier, broker and shipper with the trailer number, seal number, load details and last known location.
3. Notify your insurer and start a cargo claim. Liability between carrier and shipper for lost freight follows the Carmack Amendment and the contract; see freight claims under the Carmack Amendment.
4. Report online fraud to the FBI. Fictitious pickups, account takeovers and payment fraud can be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
5. Report identity theft to FMCSA. If your USDOT or MC number was used by someone else, file a complaint in FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database and update your registration contacts.

Bottom line

The 2025 numbers show thieves taking fewer loads but far more valuable ones, which points to planned theft rather than opportunity. For small carriers the biggest exposure is often not their own trailer but their identity: a hijacked USDOT number can be used to steal loads in the carrier’s name, so checking FMCSA records for unexpected changes is now basic security.

FAQ

Which state has the most cargo theft?

California, with 1,218 incidents in 2025 according to CargoNet. California, Texas and Illinois together accounted for nearly 52% of cargo theft that year.

What is a fictitious pickup?

A fictitious pickup is a theft where someone posing as a legitimate carrier collects a load from the shipper using fake or stolen credentials. The shipper loads the truck willingly, and the theft is discovered only when the freight does not arrive.

Is the carrier liable if a load is stolen?

Often yes, under the Carmack Amendment, a carrier is liable for loss of freight in its care, subject to limits in its tariff or contract. Coverage depends on the cargo policy, and policies may exclude unattended vehicles, so read the exclusions.

Who investigates cargo theft?

Local police handle the initial report. Large or interstate cases may involve state task forces and the FBI, and online fraud reports go to the FBI’s IC3.