Cargo Theft: Tips on Protecting Sensitive Freight
Cargo theft surges in the weeks leading up to the holidays and doesn’t slow down until the end of January. Thieves and hijackers are well aware that retailers have ordered big-ticket items that can be sold on the black market. From 2022 to 2023, cargo theft spiked by a reported 57%. In 2024, that figure shot up by another 50%, bringing the increase over the past three years to more than 100%. According to the American Trucking Association, 2025 appears to be another banner year for criminals, and the need for protecting freight has never been greater.
Primary High-Risk Industries
The average cargo theft loss hovered around $200,000 in 2024, according to a Verisk CargoNet report. While hijacking gangs and scammers indiscriminately target tractor-trailers at times, there appears to be a more organized effort by others. These rank among the primary industries thieves hit:
- Food & Beverage
- Electronics
- Automotive Parts & Vehicles
- Retail Loads
- Metals
- Tobacco
- Building Materials
- Tires
- Batteries
- Consumer Goods
It’s essential for truck drivers to keep in mind that roadside robbers do not restrict their wicked ways to these industries. Regardless of what you’re hauling, knowing how to protect your freight is critical.
Protecting Your Freight
Don’t Skip Your Pre-Trip Inspections
Pre-trip inspections are a proactive step toward protecting freight from cargo theft. These inspections help stop unnecessary breakdowns that can leave loads vulnerable. When drivers and their loads are sidelined, thieves act spontaneously to swarm and steal. All they really need is superior numbers and a pair of lock cutters. By that same token, verifying that locks, hinges, screws, or other elements have not been tampered with is critical.
Plan Ahead—Avoid Resting & Parking in High-Crime Areas
Cargo theft gangs typically focus on loads that pass through their local area. This class of criminals is intimately familiar with the rest areas, truck stops, and alternative locations truckers use when safe parking spaces are full. Although truckers may feel pressured by hours-of-service restrictions, it’s imperative to avoid parking in unlit (or even poorly lit) lots or areas known for high crime. Checking into a nearby motel may not seem financially palatable, but it beats being in harm’s way or having your load stolen.
Lock Your Trailer
It may seem almost silly to remind CDL professionals to lock trailers prior to leaving the yard and recheck them before taking a well-deserved break. But the reality is that every day, people lose their car keys, forget to turn off ovens, and leave their licenses at home when driving at some point. We all circle back to correct these seemingly minor lapses.
Should a garden variety thief notice an unlocked trailer, the criminal will likely be provoked to steal at least some of the items. By making trailer lock checks a habit, unnecessary cargo theft can be avoided.
Make the Trailer Doors Inaccessible When Parking
Veteran truckers learn a few tricks that are not necessarily taught in CDL training schools. One of them involves ways to park a trailer that discourage criminals from attempting to crack open the barn doors or, in some cases, the side door. When selecting a parking space, consider how many feet it would take to open the door and offload the cargo.
Backing up close enough to fencing or another barrier can prevent cargo theft because criminals calculate the difficulty and set their sights elsewhere. In terms of side doors, simply pulling alongside a fellow trucker mitigates the risk of a side-entry. While these strategies prove useful in protecting freight, parking in a safe lot with others tends to make crooks timid.
Perform an Inspection After Every Break
Performing a thorough inspection following each break has proven to be a useful way of protecting freight in the supply chain. Truckers can check locks, hinges, and other security features that may have been tampered with while they were dining, walking, or stretching. It’s not unusual for today’s larcenists to be interrupted by a passerby before they can plunder the trailer.
Cargo theft crews may be inclined to follow a semi-truck and finish the job later. If there are signs that a trailer has been meddled with, notify a supervisor and file a police report. That will alert law enforcement to monitor the location moving forward.
Understand How Cargo Should Be Secured
Not every load is housed inside a secure trailer. When pulling goods or materials that are strapped down on a flatbed, consider the integrity of the tackle, keeping them in place. Cargo tie-down straps are typically made of polyester and are not terribly difficult to slash and remove. If a highway bandit runs short of time, load integrity could be compromised without a trucker’s knowledge. Keep an eye on the measures used to secure goods and materials.
Use Trackers
The increasing number of cargo thefts makes it abundantly clear that the pattern of burglarizing and hijacking tractor-trailers is not going to stop anytime soon. If you’re an owner-operator, rather than pretending theft won’t happen to you, consider integrating tracking devices into pallets, goods, and materials. If a criminal manages to swipe a portion of the load, law enforcement can track down the goods and materials.
What to Do After Cargo Theft
- Contact local police and file a report.
- Contact your dispatch and calmly explain what happened.
- Jot down any instructions from the dispatcher.
- Follow the next steps outlined by your dispatcher.
Are You a New Driver?
Are you considering a career in trucking? TSI offers a six-week, paid CDL training program that includes three days of in-classroom orientation and several weeks of team driving with one of TSI’s experienced drivers. During this program, you’ll learn more about how to secure a load, communicating with dispatch, what to look for during pre-trip inspections, and more. Visit our website to learn more about our new driver program or check out our blog for more resources.
