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.
How Spot & Red Technologies Build Practical, Real-World AI Solutions That Actually Work
Artificial intelligence isn’t new to logistics, but honest conversations about what actually works are. For years, Spot’s wholly-owned subsidiary and technology arm, Red Technologies, has been building and deploying AI in ways that reflect the real-world pace, pressure, and complexity of freight. The work wasn’t linear; it was iterative and deeply collaborative.
What follows is a behind-the-scenes look at how the engineers, data scientists, and operations teams of Red Technologies have adopted AI by doing what logistics has always required: solving the problem directly in front of them, learning from the people closest to the work, and scaling only when the results earn it.
This whitepaper blends two perspectives rarely found in a single narrative:
- The data side: where AI is fueled, shaped, and validated
- The development side: where ideas become actual systems inside Spot’s platform
Together, the two perspectives reveal how the Red Technologies team approaches AI with clarity, humility, and a firm focus on operational value.
Read and download the latest white paper here
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.