U.S. cargo theft rises 40%, states report

Cargo theft in the U.S. has reached crisis levels, with annual losses now topping $35 billion, according to new data reported by Tank Transport. Theft incidents surged 40% in 2024, and early 2025 figures suggest another double-digit increase. With roughly 65,000 incidents logged last year, the growing threat has put pressure on shippers, carriers, and brokers to rethink cargo security as a strategic priority.

Criminal tactics have evolved far beyond traditional trailer break-ins. The report highlights a wave of fraud-based schemes, including double brokering scams where criminals hijack legitimate FMCSA credentials, business email compromises that reroute freight, and cloned carrier pickups at loading docks. On the rails, thieves have physically sabotaged brake hoses along Southwestern routes to steal goods mid-transit—sometimes within minutes.

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