Close-up of a cargo trailer lock secured with a red plastic seal, representing freight security, with overlaid white text reading "The Rise of Cargo Freight in 2025" and the Moll Solutions logo in the bottom corner.
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The Explosive Rise of Cargo Theft in 2025

BySarah Moll
Close-up of a cargo trailer lock secured with a red plastic seal, representing freight security, with overlaid white text reading "The Rise of Cargo Freight in 2025" and the Moll Solutions logo in the bottom corner.

Criminals are finding it easier than ever to steal freight, largely because gaps exist at multiple points in the shipping process. ATRI recently released a 70-page report (that you can find here) that took a broad look at the problem, gathering data from trucking companies, brokers, insurance providers, and other stakeholders to map out how cargo theft is happening and why many victims struggle to prevent it from happening again.

Cargo theft isn’t new, but the scale and sophistication we’re seeing now is. According to CargoNet and the FBI, freight thefts in 2024 reached a record $694 million in reported losses. That number is expected to be even higher in 2025. The real figure could be much worse, since a majority of cargo thefts go unreported due to fear of higher insurance premiums.

To put it in perspective: Cargo theft now costs more per day than the average U.S. bank robbery does in a year. And thieves aren’t just targeting high-end electronics anymore. Food, household goods, and building materials are all fair game.

What’s Changed: More Sophisticated Thieves, Bigger Paydays

This isn’t just about someone breaking into a trailer in the middle of the night. Theft rings are taking advantage of the digital era and are easily able to leverage forged documents, fake carrier profiles, and sophisticated phishing schemes to redirect loads right off the dock. Many of these operations are tied to organized crime networks, including transnational groups.

One major trend? Strategic cargo theft — where scammers pose as legitimate carriers to pick up loads. They look real: MC numbers, insurance certificates, even reviews. They double-broker the loads, and the moment they are paid, they disappear.

Where and When It Happens Most

Hotspots include Southern California, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and the Chicago area. But theft is rising everywhere.

  • Weekends are high-risk, especially Friday pickups with Monday deliveries.
  • Warehouses and parking lots are still common targets.
  • Blind shipments and long dwell times increase exposure.

The Cost of Cargo Theft

It’s not just the cost of the lost freight. Consider:

  • Reputational damage with customers
  • Delays in production or delivery timelines
  • Insurance deductibles and potential premium hikes
  • Time spent filing police reports, insurance claims, and dealing with legal fallout

And again, the cargo stolen today isn’t always high-end electronics. A load of baby formula or lumber can fetch tens of thousands on the secondary market.

How to Protect Your Freight: Real Tactics That Work

Here’s where logistics managers can actually take action:

1. Tighten Carrier Vetting

Use tools like Carrier411, FreightGuard, and SaferWatch. Never rely on a single MC number alone. At Moll Solutions, we check for red flags like:

  • Recent authority setup (less than 12 months old)
  • No reviews or references, little to no online presence
  • Unverifiable insurance
  • Recent and/or frequent changes to company name/contact information

2. Beware of Unusual Requests

Watch for carriers who:

  • Don’t ask many or any questions about the freight and load-related details
  • Request Zelle, CashApp or suspicious forms of payment
  • Push for blind shipments without clear reason

3. Track in Real-Time

Use GPS-tracked carriers. Require load tracking for your shipments. It’s harder to steal what you can follow.

4. Use Team Drivers for High-Value Loads

They drive longer with fewer stops. That’s less dwell time for thieves to target.

5. Create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Carrier Scams

Cargo theft isn’t just a carrier problem—it starts with your internal process. Make sure everyone on your team knows what to look for, and who to escalate concerns to. If your shipping team doesn’t have a clear system in place, you’re exposed. Here’s a solid checklist you can build into your daily operations:

1. Always verify the carrier yourself
Don’t trust paperwork or email alone. Confirm carrier identity directly through FMCSA’s website, not a link someone sends you. Make sure the MC and DOT numbers match the name and contact info you were expecting.

2. Check the insurance from the source
Request a certificate of insurance (COI), but don’t stop there also request the truck in question’s VIN #. A legitimate carrier will have no problem providing this quickly. Then call the insurance provider directly to confirm it’s valid, hasn’t been recently canceled and covers the correct VIN #.

3. Watch out for spoofed emails and domains
Double-check email addresses against what’s listed in FMCSA records. Many scammers use lookalike domains (e.g., @truxfast.com instead of @truxfastinc.com) to impersonate legitimate carriers.

4. Pre-verify all driver and equipment info
Before any truck arrives, request and confirm the driver’s name, phone number, truck number, and trailer number. When they show up to the shipper, match this info exactly and request ID.

5. Use secure pickup protocols
Require a signed Bill of Lading (BOL) and photo ID at pickup. Take photos of the truck, trailer, and driver’s ID and keep them on file in case something goes wrong.

6. Be suspicious of last-minute changes
If a carrier suddenly says the original driver or equipment “had an issue,” stop and reverify everything. Many thefts start with seemingly innocent substitutions.

7. Loop in your team
Freight fraud happens when communication breaks down. Make sure sales, logistics, and dispatch are all aligned on which carriers are approved and how to handle pickups.

8. Document everything
From initial vetting to delivery confirmation, keep a digital paper trail. It’ll save you if you need to file a claim or prove due diligence.

Final Word: Don’t Assume You’re Too Small to Target

Many small and mid-sized shippers think cargo theft is a “big company” problem. But the truth is: smaller operations are often easier to scam. Less bureaucracy, less security, and fewer resources to investigate mean thieves can get in and out faster.

That’s why Moll Solutions puts carrier vetting at the center of every shipment we move. We believe in protecting not just the load, but your peace of mind.

Want help moving freight without the risk? Reach out to Moll Solutions here.

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