Freight crime is no longer dominated by smash-and-grab thefts or hijackings at truck stops. Instead, cargo crime is becoming increasingly digital, targeted and globally orchestrated – and many carriers should choose digital partners wisely.
According to Joe Ohr, chief operating officer at the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), the LTL industry is seeing a sharp rise in what he describes as “digital-enabled cargo theft”.
Mr Ohr told The Loadstar on the sidelines of Manifest in Las Vegas this week: “What we’re seeing now is not physical theft in the traditional sense. It’s fraud. It’s phishing. It’s AI. It’s criminals knowing exactly where the cargo is, what it is, and how to intercept it.”
High-profile thefts reported in the media often obscure how the cargo is actually being stolen, he added. “These aren’t guys with guns anymore. It’s much more strategic. It’s pilfering specific data rather than smash-and-grab.”
NMFTA has identified a shift not only in tactics, but also in the type of freight being targeted. While electronics were once a primary focus, criminals are increasingly stealing easily resold goods, such as energy drinks, food products, nuts, and seafood.
“They’re looking for things they can sell quickly,” said Mr Ohr. “They’re not glamorous, so they’re less likely to be prosecuted aggressively.”
The threat is also increasingly international. While thefts are often executed locally, Mr Ohr said the intelligence and cyber-fraud elements were frequently orchestrated offshore.
“We’re seeing this follow the same paths as cybercrime. The hacking may come from overseas, with local actors carrying it out.”
For carriers racing to digitise operations, the challenge is balancing efficiency with security, and Mr Ohr urged companies not to abandon digital transformation, just to approach it more cautiously.
“Choose your partners wisely,” he said. “Your vendors are your partners, and you’re only as strong as your weakest link. Cybersecurity has to be in their DNA, not an afterthought.”
He also warned against removing humans entirely from operational processes.
“If something doesn’t seem right – a strange reroute, a sudden instruction – pick up the phone,” he said. “You need at least one human element. We’ve seen cases where companies were shipping laptops to people who weren’t even employees.”
Another common mistake is failing to involve IT teams early enough.
“Operations want to move fast and see IT as a barrier,” Mr Ohr said. “But IT is there to ask the ‘what ifs’. That’s what protects you.”
Ultimately, Mr Ohr said, awareness alone was not enough, adding: “People know this is an issue.
“They just don’t always take the right precautions. And in today’s environment, you have to assume someone out there has bad intent – and plan accordingly.”
