Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Recent Surge in Cargo Theft

Cargo theft is rising at an alarming rate, with new reports showing a 49% increase in 2024. Now, lawmakers are stepping in to examine the growing crisis.

The Senate’s Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety subcommittee, led by Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), will hold a hearing titled “Grand Theft Cargo: Examining the Costly Threat to Consumers and the U.S. Supply Chain.” The session will focus on organized crime rings, freight fraud, and the rise of cargo theft in trucking and rail operations.

“The increased threat of strategic cargo theft is threatening our supply chains and hurting American businesses and consumers,” said Sen. Young. He pointed to crime organizations from Armenia, Colombia, and Mexico that are fueling the problem.

Cargo Theft Jumped Nearly 50% in 2024

A new report from supply chain risk management specialists Overhaul found that cargo theft surged in 2024, with 2,217 recorded cases across the U.S. The bulk of these thefts—60%—happened in the second half of the year, signaling an ongoing vulnerability in freight security.

“In 2024, cargo theft experienced a severe increase, with each quarter surpassing the same period in the previous year by a striking 30% in theft incidents,” Overhaul stated in its report.

Criminals are getting bolder and more strategic, with thieves targeting high-value shipments like electronics (24% of thefts), general freight (15%), and home and garden products (10%).

The most affected states were California (32%) and Texas (19%), together accounting for 51% of all reported cases. However, cargo theft is spreading beyond its usual hotspots, with Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Illinois also seeing spikes in theft activity.

Senate Hearing to Focus on Industry and Law Enforcement Responses

The Senate subcommittee hearing will feature testimony from law enforcement, trucking leaders, and supply chain executives on how criminals exploit weaknesses in freight security. Witnesses include:

• Chief Will Johnson, BNSF Railway Police
• Robert Howell, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Academy Sports and Outdoors
• Adam Blanchard, CEO, Tanager Logistics and Double Diamond Transport
• Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA)

The hearing will examine potential solutions, including better enforcement by federal agencies like the FMCSA and the Department of Homeland Security.

Cargo Theft Expected to Keep Rising in 2025

According to Overhaul’s 2024 cargo theft report, the situation is expected to worsen in 2025, with freight crime projected to increase another 22%.

“This indicates that, unlike in previous years, cargo theft is spreading to other states but remains a latent risk for logistics activities in metropolitan areas that are commonly affected by these thefts,” the company said.

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