Cargo Theft Survey Finds 40% of Companies Lose at Least $1 Million Annually

Cargo theft is creating seven-figure annual losses for a large share of the companies represented in a new SmartSense survey. FreightWaves reported September 24 that 40% of the 150 U.S. loss-prevention and organized-retail-crime professionals surveyed said their organizations lose at least $1 million per year. Another 28% reported yearly costs exceeding $2 million. Coleman Parkes conducted the research in August 2026 across companies of widely different sizes.

The results point to a threat that extends beyond cutting a seal or stealing a parked trailer. Fraudulent pickups and carrier impersonation concerned 78% of respondents, followed by GPS jamming or spoofing at 71%, trailer theft at 66% and double brokering at 64%. Sixty-three percent said incidents increased from the previous year, while 80% connected theft events with lost sales. Those percentages describe survey respondents, not every shipper or carrier nationwide.

Shipment data is becoming part of the target. Access to transportation systems can expose cargo contents, routes and expected arrival times, giving criminals information they can use to select and intercept loads. Seventy percent of respondents planned to increase prevention spending, with real-time location visibility and analysis of repeat patterns among the capabilities they considered valuable. Only 37% said they regularly notify authorities and work directly with investigators.

Carriers can reduce exposure with repeatable controls at every handoff. Dispatch teams should confirm pickup changes through a known phone number, verify driver and tractor identities before releasing cargo, limit who can view shipment details and document seal numbers. Route-deviation and unauthorized-stop alerts require an assigned person who can respond promptly. Drivers should report suspicious instructions without relying on contact information supplied in an unexpected message. Fast reporting to customers, insurers and law enforcement also preserves evidence and helps investigators connect related events.