Freight Brokers Grapple with a Fraud Crisis: Cargo Theft Surges 65% Nationwide
The freight and logistics sector is entering a new phase of crisis as cargo theft and sophisticated fraud schemes reach unprecedented levels. According to the State of Fraud in the Industry report released last week by the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), fraud in freight brokerage is no longer a nuisance—it’s a full-blown epidemic. Between September 2024 and February 2025, reported fraud cases surged 65% compared to the previous period. The data, drawn from TIA member surveys and reports submitted to the association’s Watchdog platform, paints a grim picture of rising risk and financial strain, especially for small and mid-sized freight brokers. A Dual Blow: Losses and Prevention Costs The TIA report exposes a financial double-bind: not only are brokers losing large sums to fraudulent activity, they’re also being forced to ramp up spending on prevention. Nearly a quarter of respondents reported losses exceeding $200,000 due to fraud over ...