What changed

CargoNet released 2025 cargo theft data on January 2, 2026. Total reported cargo theft 2,847 incidents - up 23% over 2024. Fictitious pickup (where a fraudster impersonates a legitimate carrier to receive cargo) claims tripled year-over-year and now make up 38% of all reported cargo theft.

Claim severity (average loss per incident) climbed 14% to $234,000 - driven by both inflation in cargo replacement value and the shift toward higher-value targets like electronics and automotive components.

Where theft concentrates

California (Inland Empire, Central Valley), Texas (Dallas / Houston / Laredo border), and Illinois (Chicago / Joliet) lead reported theft incidents. Florida (Miami / Jacksonville) and Georgia (Atlanta) round out the top five.

Fictitious-pickup operators target high-value commodities (electronics, pharmaceuticals, auto parts) shipping through major load boards. The fraudster uses spoofed MC numbers and emailed BOL credentials to deceive shippers and 3PLs.

How to reduce exposure

Brokers and shippers can verify carriers through SAFER (active authority status, BMC-91 active, no recent deactivations) and confirm the contact phone number matches the carrier-of-record on FMCSA records. Spoofed MC numbers fail this check because the fraudster's phone won't match.

For carriers, the practical defense is rate-confirmation procedures and physical-token verification at the pickup location. Some carriers now require driver to present the rate confirmation hard copy at the dock, not just digital.

What to do next

Audit your cargo-insurance limit. The $100,000-per-truck minimum that brokers contractually require may not cover a high-value load - many fleets are stepping limits up to $250K or $500K. Confirm your BMC-32 or equivalent cargo endorsement is filed with FMCSA and current.