Cargo Theft Losses Reached $725 Million in 2025
Cargo-theft losses reached an estimated $725 million in 2025, a 60% increase from 2024, according to Verisk CargoNet's 2025 Cargo Theft Trends release in January 2026. That is a large jump in a single year. If you move freight for a living or depend on it arriving intact, this number is part of your operating environment now.
The scale matters because theft does not stop at the stolen load. A missing shipment means delayed production, empty shelves, claims paperwork, and strained customer relationships. Each incident ripples through a supply chain that has little slack to begin with.
The encouraging part is that the pattern behind these losses is increasingly well understood. When you know how thieves operate, cargo theft prevention and freight security become a matter of process and discipline rather than luck.
Strategic Theft Is Now the Dominant Type of Cargo Crime
Strategic cargo theft, which includes carrier-identity fraud and load redirection, is now the dominant typology of supply-chain crime, according to RiskWatch. This is not a thief with bolt cutters at a truck stop. It is a coordinated effort in which a fraudulent party poses as a legitimate carrier, wins a load, and diverts it before anyone notices.
The numbers show how much is at stake. RiskWatch, citing Verisk CargoNet data, reports 3,594 supply-chain crime events across the US and Canada in 2025. The average loss per theft rose to $273,990, so a single successful scheme can mean a substantial loss for the shipper.
What makes these tactics hard to catch is that they often look routine on paper. The paperwork appears complete, the dispatcher sounds professional, and the pickup happens on schedule. The warning signs usually show up only if someone is actively verifying who is behind the truck.
Compliance and Security Go Hand-in-Hand
It is easy to treat compliance as a regulatory chore and security as a separate concern. In practice, they share the same foundation: knowing exactly who is handling your freight and being able to prove it. Carrier vetting, DOT and FMCSA authority checks, insurance verification, and clean documentation all serve regulators and also close the gaps that fraudsters use. For a closer look at how verification is moving upstream, see our piece on dock-level validation and the compliance shift of 2026.
At Gateway Logistics, we are a third-party freight brokerage that connects shippers with carriers. We use technology and real-time market intelligence to keep our service transparent for our shipper and carrier partners.
The regulatory landscape keeps expanding, too. Phase 2 of CMMC 2.0 flowdown is scheduled for November 2026, and first reports under the EU CSRD ESRS E1 climate-disclosure regime are due in 2026 for in-scope EU-listed shippers, per RiskWatch. The rules differ, but the lesson is the same: audit-ready records are becoming a baseline expectation. Your coverage and protocols matter here as well, as we explain in our look at freight insurance in 2026.
Why Long-Term 3PL Partnerships Matter More Than Ever
Stable relationships are common in this industry. According to the 2026 Annual Third-Party Logistics Study, cited by Coherent Market Insights, 94% of 3PL providers and 85% of shippers reported that their longest-standing partnership had lasted more than five years. Security can improve naturally in relationships like these.
Familiarity is a real control. A partner who has handled your freight for years knows your normal pickup patterns, your typical carriers, and your receiving contacts. When something is off, such as an unexpected driver change or a strange reroute request, that person notices and asks questions.
Long-term partnerships also allow deeper vetting and shared protocols. You can agree on check-call schedules, escalation steps, and approved carrier pools once, then refine them over time instead of starting from scratch with every new vendor. Treat partnership stability as part of your security posture, not just a convenience.
Protecting Freight One Shipment at a Time
Security gets built one shipment at a time, and each load deserves the same checklist. Before pickup, confirm the carrier's authority and insurance, and match the driver and equipment to what was dispatched. During transit, use real-time tracking and agreed check calls so a deviation is visible quickly. At delivery, keep signed documentation tied to the original booking.
Communication protocols matter as much as technology. Everyone involved should know that a last-minute change to a pickup location or delivery address requires verification through a known contact, not through a new email or phone number. Our use of technology and real-time market intelligence reflects that same focus on transparency. The focus stays on process and proof.
Build Security Into Your Freight Strategy Now
Cargo theft is a risk you can manage with diligence. Start by reviewing your current 3PL relationships. Ask how carriers are vetted, how identity is confirmed at pickup, and what tracking and documentation you can see. Verify carrier credentials rather than assuming them, and put real-time tracking in place for loads where the exposure is highest. Because compliance deadlines are tightening, it also helps to review the FMCSA enforcement dates coming in 2026.
Prevention works best when shippers and their logistics partners share responsibility for it. This week, audit one active lane against the checklist above, then contact us to talk through your lanes and risk points.
