With Spot moving thousands of truckloads every day, we have a front-row seat to the security challenges facing modern supply chains. Recently, our Co-Founder, Andrew Elsener, sat down with Dan Ronan on SiriusXM’s “On the Move” to discuss one of the fastest-growing threats to our industry: highly sophisticated, tech-driven cargo theft.
If you missed the live broadcast, here is a high-level overview of Elsener’s insights on how cargo crime has evolved and how Spot is leveraging technology to protect our shippers.
The New Face of Cargo Theft
Forget the movie clichés of thieves with bolt cutters at truck stops. Today’s cargo crime is digital, organized, and often orchestrated by criminal rings operating entirely outside the United States.
Elsener highlighted the sophisticated tactics dominating the industry today:
- Identity Theft & Chameleon Carriers: Fraudsters buy legitimate Motor Carrier (MC) numbers, build fake websites, and pose as trusted operators to infiltrate digital freight portals.
- AI-Generated Forgeries: Criminals are actively using artificial intelligence to forge Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) and Bills of Lading (BOL).
- Advanced Tampering: From using specialized magnets to remove trailer doors without breaking security seals, to deploying “blind shipment” schemes that trick unsuspecting drivers, thieves are completely bypassing traditional security measures.
“The levels they’ll go to steal are amazing,” Elsener shared. “This theft epidemic has escalated at a level I’ve never seen before. It really is the Wild West.”
Top Targeted Commodities & Hotspots
Rings heavily prioritize high-volume consumer goods that can be quickly liquidated in underground markets. Packaged foods, specialized beverages, energy drinks, and consumer electronics are high-risk items. Geographically, these operations are often heavily concentrated in massive port and distribution hubs across states like California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois.
Defending the Supply Chain: The Spot Strategy
Elsener outlined a sample of some of the rigorous, multilayered compliance and technology protocols we use to keep our network secure:
- Strict Carrier Vetting: We look deeply into historical carrier data, using multiple tools to track ownership changes and contact info, and other information to confirm they are who they say they are, and will deliver our customers shipments safely, and on time.
- Portal & System Controls: We implement DNS and IP address tracking to verify login locations, backed by strict Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
- AI-Driven Compliance: We are actively integrating AI to run automated watermark checks on CDLs and cross-reference paperwork before freight ever leaves the dock.
Want to learn more about how Spot safeguards your supply chain? Connect with our team today to discuss our security protocols. And be sure to download our cargo theft white paper below.
At Spot, we understand the vital role that up-to-date information plays in navigating the dynamic logistics market. Each month, we bring you a comprehensive logistics market update. We dive into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the logistics sector. Join us as we empower you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions in this fast-paced industry. Market Update.
Demand Level & Outlook
Retail & Manufacturing Impacts
Importers cite persistent geopolitical and regulatory volatility, leading to:
- Cautious inventory positions
- Delayed orders
- Tariff-related cost uncertainty
Manufacturers tied to Chinese imports are particularly strained, with shipments to the U.S. falling over 25% YoY.
Holiday Season 2025 Outlook
Retailers remain well-stocked, preventing shortages, but that is a sign of reduced ordering, not healthy demand and port trackers anticipate the slowest December since March 2023.
Supply, Capacity, and Carrier Operating Costs
Massive Productivity Losses Shrink Effective Capacity
Lost driver time is effectively lost supply:
- 135.9 million hours lost annually due to detention.
- 1.2 billion hours lost annually due to congestion.
These productivity losses convert directly into higher operating costs and reduce the effective capacity available in the network.
Tariffs Are Increasing Equipment Costs
New heavy-duty truck tariffs took effect in November. Although less severe than expected, these new policies will increase tractor and parts costs, incentivize reshoring U.S. production, and delay OEM capacity expansions.
Spot & Contract Market Trends
Contract Rates: Stable but Unsustainably Low
Contract rates have been essentially flat since mid-2024, rising only 1% over the last 15 months. Despite this stability, they now sit just 16% above 2019 levels, even though carrier operating costs have increased roughly 33% in that same period.
This creates a widening and unsustainable gap between revenue and expenses for carriers.
Market Update.
As we approach Labor Day weekend, logistics professionals across the country should be on high alert for heightened risk of cargo theft attempts. According to recent data from Verisk CargoNet, cargo theft activity has more than doubled since 2020 during this holiday stretch, making it one of the most at-risk times of year for freight security.
The critical period spans from the Thursday before Labor Day (August 28, 2025) through the following Wednesday (September 3, 2025), and data from the past five years paints a clear and concerning picture. Of the 214 theft events reported in that time, the Friday before Labor Day consistently sees the highest number of incidents. In 2024 alone, a record-high 16 thefts were reported on that single day.
Hotspots & High-Value Targets
Cargo theft isn’t evenly spread. The epicenters are:
- California (especially San Bernardino County)
- Texas (especially Dallas County)
Targeted freight types are consistent with high resale value and demand:
- Food & Beverage (Shellfish and pork remain top-tier targets – 36 thefts)
- Electronics (Such as televisions – 23 thefts)
- Household Goods (Furniture and appliances – 23 thefts)
- Vehicle Accessories (Tires and auto parts – 18 thefts)
Beyond traditional theft, fraud-based schemes are rapidly increasing and adding another layer of complexity. Organized crime rings are now purchasing legitimate motor carriers with proper operating authority and clean reputations to book high-value loads under the radar. Once the freight is secured, the criminals vanish, often taking multiple shipments in a single day.
This type of fraud thrives during long weekends when:
- Staffing is light
- Communication is slower
- Carriers are pressed to move freight before the holiday shutdown
Stay Secure
At Spot, we’re committed to keeping your freight moving and protected. If you need support with secure capacity or want help reviewing risk exposure ahead of the holiday, our team is standing by.
Combating Cargo Theft in Today’s Freight Market
Cargo theft is a growing concern across the supply chain, affecting shippers, carriers, and logistics providers alike. In 2024, reported incidents were up 27% compared to 2023.
In Q2 2025 alone, total estimated losses exceeded $61 million. Today’s thieves aren’t relying on brute force. They are exploiting gaps in processes, digital security, and verification protocols. From impersonation and identity-based deception to credential exploitation, the tactics are more sophisticated than ever. It’s more important than ever for organizations to stay informed and prepared.
In our white paper, From Blind Spots to Best Practices: Combatting Cargo Theft in Today’s Freight Market, we break down the latest theft trends, high-risk commodities, and stages of prevention shippers should adopt. We also share a step-by-step post-theft response plan to help shippers act fast.
If you move freight, you can’t afford to treat security as an afterthought. Learn the red flags, tighten your defenses, and protect your bottom line.