Cargo theft has long been a concern for supply chains of high-value products such as electronics, food and beverage, other consumer goods, according to Thom Albrecht, Chief Revenue Officer for Reliance Partners, a fast-growing commercial insurance agency in trucking and logistics.
In fact, in the United States millions of dollars’ worth of consumables are lost each year to theft during transport, at distribution centers, or from unsecured warehouses.
Cargo theft doesn’t just hit the bottom line, Albrecht points out. It undermines supply chain trust and reputation, impacts insurance rates, and can even lead to shortages of products. There are unique ways this growing issue can negatively impact women in the trucking workforce.
Record-breaking cargo theft activity across the U.S. and Canada reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with 3,625 reported incidents representing a stark 27% increase from 2023, according to an annual analysis by Verisk CargoNet, a business unit of Verisk which is a leading global data analytics provider. The estimated average value per theft rose to $202,364, up from $187,895 in 2023.
Geographic trends show California and Texas experiencing the most significant increases in theft activity, according to Keith Lewis, Vice President of Operations with CargoNet. California reported a 33% rise in incidents, while Texas saw a 39% surge. Other states with high rates include Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Arizona.
While 2023 saw frequent theft of high-value or high-volume food products such as energy drinks, 2024 marked a strategic pivot by organized criminals to specific consumable goods.
Cargo theft is a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise worldwide, and while both straight theft (otherwise known as “tactical”) and organized criminals engage in it, organized crime rings are proving to be far more effective, efficient, and damaging, according to Albrecht. What makes organized crime more successful and dangerous in cargo theft than their tactical counterparts?
Straight theft is committed by tactical criminals who oftentimes are opportunists, according to Scott Cornell, National Practice Leader with Travelers Inland Marine, a major insurance provider that serves companies that haul cargo. “These are typically small crews, usually people who are related to or have known each other since childhood, and they are relatively unsophisticated.”
“They are physically on location and go straight out to the cargo and steal it where it sits,” Cornell explains. “They rely on short-term planning, limited resources, and impulsive decisions.” A classic example might be a thief or small crew who targets an unattended truck at a truck stop or an under-secured facility.
On the other hand, organized criminals operate like a business, says Cornell. They have structures, hierarchies, logistics networks, or connections within shipping companies, for-hire trucking companies, private fleets, or logistics providers. They often work across multiple states or even countries, so if one operation is compromised, they shift to another. They diversify the types of goods they steal and can carry out multiple thefts at once. This level of redundancy makes them more resilient and profitable and less likely to get caught.
Organized crews conduct planning and surveillance on potential targets, studying patterns, tracking routes, and analyzing vulnerabilities in the supply chain. Tactical criminals may strike when the opportunity arises, but organized groups create their opportunities.
Organized criminals can gain access to insider knowledge such as real-time data on shipments, routes and security protocols by bribing employees. They also can use advanced tools to intercept communications, clone GPS signals, and hack into TMS or WMS systems to reroute shipments or impersonate legitimate carriers — techniques that are far beyond the reach of a tactical criminal.
Stealing a truckload of goods is only half the battle. Cargo thieves oftentimes have pre-arranged channels to offload and resell stolen cargo — whether through gray markets, online platforms, or distribution networks. Tactical criminals, in contrast, often lack the means to convert goods into cash quickly or safely.
Cargo theft doesn’t just cause financial losses, but for women it can heighten safety risks, career pressures, and retention challenges – while also opening the door for leadership in shaping safer, more secure and inclusive practices. Here are other ways it can uniquely impact women in the workforce:
Heightened Personal Safety Concerns. Cargo theft incidents often involve intimidation, hijacking, or violence. For women truck drivers, who already can face more significant safety challenges on the road, the added risk of being targeted in theft situations can amplifies personal security concerns.
This can discourage women from taking certain routes, working night shifts, or parking in less secure areas — potentially limiting their job options.
Increased Stress and Job Pressure. Women in the trucking industry often can feel added pressure to “prove themselves” in a male-populated industry. Experiencing or even fearing cargo theft can increase stress and concerns about being judged. The psychological toll can lead to burnout or end their career prematurely.
Impact on Recruiting and Retention. Safety is one of the biggest barriers to women entering trucking. If cargo theft is perceived as common and dangerous, it may further discourage women from joining or staying in the industry. Companies that don’t have strong theft-prevention and safety support can lose female talent to other industries.
Additional Training and Responsibility. Women in operational or logistics roles (dispatchers, fleet managers, supply chain coordinators) are often responsible for theft prevention protocols. These roles face more pressure when thefts rise, adding to workloads and increasing stress that can affect women disproportionately if they’re underrepresented on teams.
There are four main ways to minimize the risk of cargo theft in the trucking industry.
While tactical criminals may pose a nuisance, organized criminal groups represent the real, sustained threat to global cargo security. As global supply chains become more interconnected, protecting cargo from theft must be a top priority. The stakes are high in both dollars lost and in consumer safety and supply chain resilience.
In a world where supply chain efficiency is more critical than ever, companies must shift their focus from protecting assets to fully understanding and disrupting the organized networks that threaten them. Those that invest in smarter logistics, stronger partnerships, and a culture of security awareness can effectively defend against the evolving threat of cargo theft.
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