Cargo Theft Changed: Fewer Loads, Higher-Dollar Targets

Cargo theft is down 26% in 2025—but the value of stolen freight has doubled. Danielle Spinelli of GenLogs breaks down why fraud rings are shifting to higher-value loads, how sold MCs and pattern changes get flagged, and what brokers and carriers should watch now. This FreightWaves Today segment covers the latest CargoNet data, real-world fraud signals, and how camera, sensor, and route-history data can spot suspicious carrier behavior before a load disappears. Cargo theft incidents dropped 26% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, but the value of stolen loads has doubled, according to CargoNet figures cited by Danielle Spinelli, Director of Partnerships at Genlog. The divergence signals a strategic shift by criminal networks away from opportunistic grabs toward deliberate targeting of high-value freight — a trend that puts premium cargo shippers and the carriers hauling their freight at elevated risk.