Cargo Theft Set to Surge 22% in 2025—Approaching Holiday Calls for Heightened Awareness

The trucking and supply chain industries are entering a dangerous digital age.  As logistics operations lean more heavily into technology, a sobering trend is emerging: cargo theft is on the rise—and it’s evolving fast.  According to recent data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), cargo theft losses spiked by 27% in 2024 and are projected to climb another 22% by the end of 2025.  That would mark a record-breaking year of cargo crime, fueled in large part by sophisticated digital tactics. 

In a parallel warning, CargoNet has issued a red alert to shippers and carriers alike: the July 4th holiday week is primed to become a hotbed for theft.  With criminal tactics growing more deceptive and effective, industry players must rethink security protocols or risk becoming easy prey.

Tech-Driven Theft: The Digital Tools Criminals Use 

The very tools that help modernize supply chains—GPS tracking, VoIP communications, and digital document sharing—are being weaponized by tech-savvy thieves.  The NICB outlined several alarming tactics in current use:

  • GPS Jamming: Criminals are jamming or disabling GPS trackers that aren't properly concealed, allowing stolen cargo to vanish without a trace.
  • VoIP Spoofing: Using services like TextNow, thieves can pose as legitimate carriers with spoofed numbers and fake emails, re-routing shipments to unauthorized locations.
  • Synthetic Identities: These are Frankenstein IDs made from a blend of real and stolen information (SSNs, DOBs, phone numbers) to bid on jobs or pass background checks.
  • Phishing Attacks: Cybercriminals trick staff into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive info, opening the door to ransomware, spyware, and unauthorized access to shipment details. 

As NICB’s Cargo Theft Program Director Robert Bornstein bluntly puts it: “From the comfort of their own home or overseas, a criminal can reroute electronics, medicine, food, and more meant for your local store to their doorstep in another country.”

Holiday Alert: July 4th Theft Risk Intensifies 

CargoNet’s advisory ahead of Independence Day highlights the unique vulnerabilities extended holiday weekends pose:

  • Peak Theft Days: July 1st and 2nd are especially dangerous, as loaded trucks often sit idle just before businesses close for the break.
  • Repeat Offenders—By Location: California, Texas, and Florida lead the nation in cargo theft, with cities like Los Angeles, Dallas, and San Bernardino being high-risk zones.
  • Popular Targets: Computer electronics, energy drinks, medical supplies, and major appliances are among the most frequently stolen goods.
  • Staggering Losses: Past thefts include nearly $440,000 in medical supplies (Fla.), over $350,000 in electronics (Calif.), and even $180,000 in ATVs (Ga.).

Defending the Dock: What Carriers and Shippers Must Do Now 

As cargo theft becomes more digital and deceptive, prevention needs to be more proactive.  Here’s what experts recommend:

-Tighten Internal Security

  • Conduct thorough background checks on all employees, especially those with access to shipment data.
  • Provide training in hijack prevention, phishing awareness, and reporting procedures.

-Vet Partners Carefully

  • Choose brokers and transporters who forbid double brokering.
  • Only allow the shipper to authorize re-routing—not brokers or drivers.
  • Verify contact details and flag VoIP numbers for extra scrutiny.

 -Enhance In-Transit Security

  • Avoid stops within the first 200 miles.
  • Park only in secure, monitored areas.
  • Watch for potential inside informants or stalker vehicles trailing loads.

-Upgrade Your Tech Defenses

  • Use multi-layered tech systems: immobilizers, GPS concealed trackers, motion-triggered alarms, and remote vehicle disablement.
  • Install 360-degree surveillance and lighting across facilities.
  • Conduct frequent audits of your security gaps and shipment protocols. 

A Wake-Up Call for the Industry

The digitization of trucking and logistics offers incredible efficiencies—but it also brings unprecedented vulnerabilities.  With losses already surpassing a billion dollars annually and thieves growing bolder by the day, companies can no longer afford to take a reactive stance.

Cargo theft isn’t just a threat to profits—it’s a growing national security issue that inflates consumer prices and disrupts entire supply chains.  As we approach high-risk periods like the July 4th weekend, businesses must double down on vetting, vigilance, and virtual defenses to stay ahead. 

The message is clear: security can no longer be an afterthought.  In the modern supply chain, it must be a core strategy.

Check out Road Scholar Transport’s high security shipping page and get your freight on board a safe and reliable carrier today.

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