Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Cargo Theft Drops, Average Value Around $189,000

Cargo thefts in the U.S. are on the decline, but the value of each heist is virtually unchanged compared to last year, according to a new second quarter report from the logistics security services provider FreightWatch International.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
August 3, 2015
Cargo Theft Drops, Average Value Around $189,000

The darkest areas indicate where cargo thefts happen the most. Graphic: FWI

2 min to read


The darkest areas indicate where cargo thefts happen the most. Graphic: FWI

Cargo thefts in the U.S. are on the decline, but the value of each heist is virtually unchanged compared to last year, according to a new second quarter report from the logistics security services provider FreightWatch International.

It recorded a total of 178 cargo thefts during the period, with 60 in April, 66 during May and 52 in June. The total number is 11% lower than during the first quarter of the year and 7% less than during the 2014 second quarter.

Ad Loading...

The average loss value per incident during this time was $189,307, a 27% drop from the first quarter of 2015, but less than a 1% increase from the same time last year.

The amount of thefts valued at over $1 million was zero during the period, while seven such incidents happened in the first quarter of this year and two during the second quarter of 2014.

Food and drinks continued to be the most stolen product type in second quarter, with 16% of total cargo thefts. The home and garden category joined electronics as the second most stolen product type, with each having 14% of the total.

Ad Loading...

Texas ranked as the top state for cargo theft, with 18% of total thefts in this quarter, an increase of 10% and 19% the first quarter of this year and the second quarter of 2014, respectively. California, with 17% of the total, came in second, while Florida was third after seeing a 37% drop in thefts from the first quarter of the year. Georgia, which saw thefts drop 27% from the first quarter of 2015, but recorded a 12% percent increase from a year earlier, had the fourth most thefts. New Jersey theft incidents fell by 60% to land in the fifth spot.

Incidents involving theft of full truckload continued to be the most common during the second quarter of the year with 83% of all reported thefts. Pilferage accounted for 8% of total thefts this quarter, a drop of 33% from the first quarter of this year. Fictitious pickup accounted for 5% of thefts, a 43% increase from the first quarter 2015. Facility theft recorded 3% of the theft total and had the highest average value of any theft type at $335,516.

The most prevalent location for large-scale cargo thefts continues to be unsecured parking, identified in 90% of reported incidents. Of these thefts, 29% occurred at public parking and another 23% from truck stops. Thefts from warehouse/distribution locations came in second with 6% of thefts and secured parking areas accounted for 3% of thefts this quarter.

More Fleet Management

Illustration of hacker and information network
Fleet Managementby Ben WilkensMay 22, 2026

The Trucking Industry’s Threat Intelligence Gap

The trucking industry has no shortage of cybersecurity reports and cargo crime statistics. What it lacks is timely, operational intelligence that fleets can actually use.

Read More →
Illustration of rising costs with truck in background

Truck Crash Rates Are Down. So Why Do Insurance Costs Keep Rising?

ATRI’s latest research points to litigation, social inflation, and soaring claims costs as key drivers behind record-high liability premiums for trucking fleets. But there are things motor carriers can do.

Read More →
ATA Truck Tonnage April 2026

ATA Truck Tonnage Holds Steady in April at Highest Levels Since 2022

ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was unchanged in April after a strong March gain, with freight volumes remaining at their highest levels since late 2022.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Greg Feary, president and managing partner of transportation law firm Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsMay 20, 2026

Behind the SCOTUS Broker Ruling Part 1

Transportation attorney Greg Feary breaks down the recent Supreme Court decision that brokers can be held liable for damages in truck accidents and what it means for the trucking industry going forward.

Read More →
ACT Research preliminary trailer orders April 2026.

ACT Research: Trailer Orders Continue Upward Surprise in April

Preliminary net trailer orders rose 3% from March and jumped 126% year over year, signaling stronger-than-expected demand despite typical seasonal softness.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DAT Freight Volume April 2026

DAT: Fuel Surcharges Drive April Truckload Rate Gains as Freight Volumes Slip

Truckload spot and contract rates climbed in April. But DAT says higher fuel costs -- not stronger freight demand -- were behind most of the increase.

Read More →
Graphic with light bulbs, HDT Truck Fleet Innovators logo, and the word Nominations
Fleet ManagementMay 15, 2026

Deadline Extended for HDT Truck Fleet Innovators Nominations

Heavy Duty Trucking has extended the deadline for nominations for its Truck Fleet Innovators awards. The deadline has been extended to May 22.

Read More →
Illustration of U.S. Supreme Court building and a truck crash

Supreme Court Ruling Puts Freight Broker Vetting Practices in Spotlight

The unanimous SCOTUS ruling in the closely watched Montgomery v. Caribe case allows state negligence claims against freight brokers that hire unsafe motor carriers, raising new liability and vetting concerns among brokers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo

FMCSA’s Motus System Is Coming. What Fleets Need to Know Now

FMCSA's long-awaited registration system promises a single portal — and tighter fraud controls. And there are steps you need to take by May 14.

Read More →