Cargo theft and organized retail crime are big problems for everyone. These transnational gangs use various and sophisticated tactics to steal cargo, and they adapt their strategies as fast as stakeholders implement new security measures. They impersonate legitimate motor carriers. They embed bad actors into motor carrier and broker operations. They rob trains. They use digital means to defraud cargo owners, motor carriers, drivers and the public at large. They are costing the supply chain $18M per DAY!
California alone accounted for 38% of all reported cargo theft in 2025.
It is rampant, and it must be stopped! In this vein, as part of the appropriations bill passed in January, Congress mandated the Department of Justice (DOJ) establish a process for a unified, federal response to cargo theft. In response to the DOJ’s lack of movement on this mandate, earlier this week, the American Trucking Associations (ATA), supply chain interests and cargo owners sent a letter to the DOJ to “move swiftly to implement the FY2026 funding and to establish this critical enforcement capacity without delay.”
Additionally, there are two bills at the US Capitol targeting cargo theft. Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) which focuses on investigating and prosecuting organized theft rings. And, Securing American Freight, Enforcement and Reliability Transport Act (SAFER Transport Act) which focuses on the regulatory side to prevent nefarious entities from exploiting the supply chain.