Cargo Theft Is Down, But Criminals Are Stealing BIGGER Loads: $230 Million Lost in Just Three Months!

Truckers VA | November 11, 2026

Here's a trucking industry statistic that sounds like good news until you look a little closer.

Cargo theft incidents are falling. But the amount of money disappearing with those stolen shipments is going in the opposite direction.

According to a new third-quarter report from Verisk CargoNet, reported supply chain crime incidents across the United States and Canada dropped 33% compared with the same period last year.

Sounds encouraging, right?

Not so fast.

Estimated losses reached a staggering $230.1 million between July and September 2026, representing a 12% increase over the same quarter in 2025.

Apparently, some criminals have decided that stealing more trucks and trailers isn't necessarily the goal. Finding one expensive shipment may be a much better payday.

Fewer Thefts, Much Bigger Financial Damage

Verisk CargoNet recorded 547 supply chain crime incidents during the third quarter of 2026.

That's down from the previous year's third-quarter total, but the financial damage tells another story.

Here are some numbers worth paying attention to:

• 547 incidents: Reported in Q3 2026.


• 33% decline: Compared with Q3 2025.


• $230.1 million: Estimated quarterly losses.


• 12% increase: In losses compared with Q3 2025.


• $718.9 million: Estimated losses during the first nine months of 2026.

Even more concerning, the average value of stolen commodities in incidents with documented values increased approximately 72% year over year, reaching $448,456.

That means fewer reported incidents are producing much larger financial consequences.

The Fake Pickup Problem Is Not Going Away

One of the most concerning developments involves something called a fictitious pickup.

In simple terms, criminals use deception to convince a shipper or facility to release a shipment to someone who isn't the legitimate carrier.

Think about that for a moment.

The truck might look legitimate. The paperwork might look convincing. The person arranging the pickup may sound professional.

But the shipment could be heading somewhere completely different from its intended destination.

CargoNet recorded 138 fictitious pickup incidents in Q3 2026, compared with 147 during the same quarter last year.

Although the number declined slightly, these incidents represented approximately 25% of all reported activity, compared with 18% a year earlier.

That's roughly one in every four reported incidents.

Criminals are increasingly combining digital deception with traditional theft tactics. Compromised business email accounts, internet-based phone systems, and transportation applications can help criminals impersonate legitimate businesses and redirect shipments.

What Are Criminals Stealing?

Not all freight is equally attractive to organized theft groups.

High-value products can offer criminals a much larger financial reward from a single successful operation.

According to CargoNet's Q3 analysis:

• Food and beverages: 94 incidents, making this the leading commodity category.


• Metals: 63 incidents, including 34 involving copper.


• Electronics: 46 incidents.


• Household goods: 49 incidents.


• Cosmetics: 14 incidents, up from nine a year earlier.

There were also 19 reported thefts involving documented losses of at least $1 million, compared with nine during Q3 2025.

High-value electronics and data center materials were among the commodities involved.

Where Is Cargo Theft Happening?

Some states continue to account for a disproportionate share of reported incidents.

California recorded 182 incidents during the quarter.

Other leading states included:

• New Jersey: 46 incidents.


• Texas: 43 incidents.


• Illinois: 40 incidents.

Together, California, New Jersey, Texas, and Illinois accounted for approximately 57% of reported third-quarter incidents.

These figures cover both the United States and Canada, so they should not be interpreted as a U.S.-only national total.

What Should Truck Drivers and Owner-Operators Do?

Here's where this story becomes personal.

Whether you're an owner-operator, company driver, dispatcher, or fleet manager, cargo theft can create problems for everyone involved.

A few practical precautions can help reduce exposure:

1. Verify pickup information. Confirm load details and pickup instructions through trusted company contacts.


2. Be careful with last-minute changes. Unexpected changes to delivery locations, contact information, or dispatch instructions deserve extra verification.


3. Protect your digital information. Use strong passwords and secure company communication channels.


4. Keep accurate records. Document pickup details, seal numbers, delivery information, and unusual communications.


5. Report suspicious activity. Contact your dispatch, security team, or appropriate law enforcement agency when something doesn't look right.

Remember, a convincing email or phone call doesn't automatically make someone legitimate.

The Bottom Line: Fewer Thefts Don't Mean Less Risk

The third-quarter numbers reveal an important change in the cargo theft landscape.

Reported incidents are declining, but the financial damage continues to grow. Criminals are increasingly interested in high-value shipments and are using digital deception to get access to freight.

For honest truck drivers, that means staying alert is more important than ever.

Because the next stolen shipment might not disappear because someone cut a lock or stole a parked trailer.

It might disappear because someone made one convincing phone call.

Let's Hear From the Trucking Community!

Here's a question for drivers, dispatchers, brokers, and owner-operators:

Are cargo theft scams becoming harder to recognize, especially when criminals impersonate legitimate carriers and dispatch companies?

Have you ever received suspicious pickup instructions, experienced a questionable load change, or encountered a situation that just didn't feel right?

Share your experience. Your warning could help another driver avoid becoming the next victim.

Sources and Further Reading

• Verisk CargoNet – Q3 2026 Supply Chain Risk Trends


• Truck News – Cargo Theft Losses Keep Rising in Q3


• Commercial Carrier Journal – Cargo Theft Losses Climb

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