As cargo theft continues to rise, experts advise on prevention and spotting fraud

Shippers and carriers should be aware that the 2022 data showed an increase in cargo theft from 2021.

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Shippers and carriers should be aware that the 2022 data showed an increase in cargo theft from 2021. Experts point out that they believe this trend won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

CargoNet reported that almost 1,800 theft claims were made by their members last year. This is an increase of 15% from 2021. Scott Cornell, transportation lead and claim and theft specialist at Travelers, adds that the data has been heading upward for several quarters.

Freight thieves are becoming more strategic

Compared to previous years, the most-targeted locations have changed. In 2021, truck stops were the highest-risk areas, followed by warehouses and distribution centers. In 2022, the data reflects warehouses and distribution centers at the top, with parking lots coming in second.

Danny Ramon, intelligence and response manager at Overhaul, noted an increase in high-value pilferages when cargo is stolen from a trailer, as opposed to the trailer itself being stolen.

Thieves are getting smarter and more aggressive. They are becoming more accurate at identifying loads that carry high-value goods. In addition, their process for stealing has become more sophisticated.

“Strategic theft,” which is when thieves use fraudulent or stolen carrier or driver identification to book and then steal loads, has historically been concentrated in Southern California, but the trend has begun to creep eastward. This increase follows an increase in shipping container traffic to eastern states.

Due to the increase in strategic theft, Ramon and Cornell emphasized the importance of shippers and brokers preventing theft through vetting. During the vetting process, having a photo of the truck with a record of its DOT and VIN numbers is important to law enforcement.

While safely and securely shipping your product from point A to point B will never be as carefree as it once was, you can make changes that increase the security of your shipments. It’s important to engage in the process and understand this is an ever-changing process.