The Cargo Theft Crisis: Addressing a Unique Threat

Cargo theft continues to plague the supply chain and logistics industries.

In 2023, there were 1,183 incidents of cargo theft in the U.S., averaging losses of $586,917 per case — a 67% increase from 2022. Another 49,366 cargo crimes were reported across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in just the first nine months of 2023.

These incidents have major financial implications, both on countries’ economies and on the transportation companies who move these goods. Cargo theft cost the U.K. over $81 million, France over $53 million, and Germany nearly $131 million. Around the globe, stolen goods amount to nearly $700 million annually.

The ongoing e-commerce boom has only exacerbated this threat. To accommodate a global web of deliveries, supply chains have had to become even more wide-reaching and complex. As a result, vulnerable touchpoints where cargo theft can occur have also grown in numbers.

In light of such risks, it will be increasingly critical for supply chain-reliant companies to protect their goods in transit and maintain operational resilience in order to meet customer expectations.

Growing Risks and Vulnerabilities

E-commerce sales are projected to grow to $6.8 trillion by 2028. 

As requests for on-demand delivery climbs, more and more distribution vehicles must take to the roads. Consider that 20% of all global retail sales are completed online, which means that one in five retail purchases is likely to be fulfilled by one of these delivery fleets. In the U.K., for instance, the number of active delivery vans has …