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North American freight security and cargo theft trends
Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.
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2026-10-14 02:11 UTC → 2026-10-27 05:16 UTC ·
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The freight and logistics industry in North America is facing a dual threat of escalating cybersecurity risks and sophisticated physical cargo theft. Early reports highlighted a shift in digital threats, where business email compromise and phishing for rate manipulation became more prevalent than traditional ransomware. Physical theft also saw a significant rise, with strategic theft increasing by 1,475% between 2022 and 2024, often utilizing methods like the ‘Trojan Driver Scam’ to bypass carrier vetting. By the second quarter of 2026, cargo theft losses in the United States and Canada reached an estimated $304.6 million, more than doubling the $135.7 million reported in the same quarter of 2025. While the total volume of individual thefts decreased by 26% year-over-year—with Verisk CargoNet recording 677 incidents between April and June—criminal syndicates have become more efficient by targeting high-value goods, including raw metals, networking equipment, and cryptocurrency mining hardware. Metal theft specifically rose from 54 incidents in Q2 2025 to 80 in Q2 2026, with nearly 70% of those thefts targeting copper due to high demand and prices. The FBI has warned of increasing sophistication, noting that criminals are hacking business accounts and impersonating carriers to redirect shipments. This convergence of physical and digital tactics—such as identity fraud and the manipulation of online marketplaces—has prompted changes in cargo underwriting to include policy riders for fraudulent pickups and social engineering risks. Businesses are currently increasing preparations to protect holiday stock as it moves through warehouses and distribution centers. Recent developments indicate a surge in the theft of high-tech components, with cargo security firm Overhaul reporting that more than $150 million in artificial intelligence (AI) hardware has been stolen during transit this year. Approximately 92% of these thefts are executed through deception, such as fake carrier identities and spoofed communications.
Versions
- 2026-10-27 05:16 UTC North American freight security and cargo theft trends
- 2026-10-14 02:11 UTC North American freight security and cargo theft trends
- 2026-09-29 18:09 UTC North American freight security and cargo theft trends
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