Cargo Theft Average Loss Value Jumps 72% as Reported Incidents Fall

Reported supply-chain crime declined during the third quarter, but the financial damage from each documented theft increased sharply. TheTrucker.com reported November 5 that CargoNet recorded 547 incidents across the United States and Canada, down 33% from a year earlier and 19% from the previous quarter. Estimated quarterly losses nevertheless rose 12% year over year to $230.1 million.

The change reflects a concentration of higher-value thefts. The average documented loss climbed 72%, from $261,115 to $448,456. Fictitious pickups accounted for 138 incidents, slightly fewer than the 147 reported a year earlier, yet their share of all incidents grew to about 25% from 18%. Through the first nine months of 2026, CargoNet estimated losses of $718.9 million, up 39%, even as incident counts fell 25% to 2,072.

Food and beverage remained the most frequently targeted category with 94 incidents. Metals followed with 63 incidents, including 34 copper thefts, while electronics accounted for 46. California, New Jersey, Illinois and Texas represented 57% of the quarter's reported incidents. Those totals describe reported cases and should not be treated as a complete count of every theft or attempted fraud.

Carriers and drivers can respond by confirming pickup numbers and driver identities through trusted contacts, avoiding route or cargo details in public channels, and reporting suspicious last-minute changes before releasing a load. Dispatch teams should verify unfamiliar phone numbers and email domains independently. With holiday freight moving, secure parking and clear escalation procedures matter as much as locks and tracking devices. The data suggests fewer reported events, but a successful theft can now create a much larger loss.