Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Cargo Theft Declines in 2014, Average Value Increases

Two separate reports show the number cargo thefts in the U.S. fell last year compared to 2013, but the average value of the heists increased.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
March 11, 2015
Cargo Theft Declines in 2014, Average Value Increases

2014 U.S. cargo theft incident frequency. Graphic: CargoNet

3 min to read


2014 U.S. cargo theft incident frequency. Graphic: CargoNet

Two separate reports show the number cargo thefts in the U.S. fell last year compared to 2013, but the average value of the heists increased.

Cargo theft prevention and recovery service provider CargoNet said there were 844 cargo theft incidents last year, down sharply from 1,098 in 2013. Also, the average value per incident increased to $181,681.

Ad Loading...

For all of 2014, $89.5 million in stolen cargo in the U.S. was reported to CargoNet. Electronics losses were the costliest, with the average value at $549,539, and totaling more than $42 million for the year.

Cargo was most often stolen from warehouse locations, due in part to a significant amount of fraudulent pickups in the trucking industry, according to CargoNet. Truck stops were the second most common location, with 130 recorded. In 2014, Georgia recorded the most cargo thefts from truck stops with 26.

Meantime, a separate report from the logistics security services provider FreightWatch International showed the number of cargo theft was lower last year with 794, a 12% decline from 2013. The average value of each theft increased even more to $232,924, a 36% jump year-over-year.

Ad Loading...

The FreightWatch report said theft of high value electronics is the main reason the average loss for cargo thefts increased, due in large part to increased organization and innovation on the part of cargo thieves. One of the main reasons for continued cargo thefts is that cargo crime represents a lucrative criminal enterprise compared with activities yielding similar returns, such as armed bank robbery. Also penalties for cargo theft are modest when compared to other types of non-violent thefts.

In 2014, 87% of all thefts with a known location occurred within unsecured parking, most frequently being truckstops, with 42% of this total, according to FreightWatch, followed by thefts in public parking areas accounting for 23% and thefts at roadside making up a 15% share. Also, 90% of all cargo thefts in 2014 occurred when the truck was stationary and unattended.

The FreightWatch report also revealed after increasing from 2011 through 2013, the number of cargo theft by fictitious pickups (thieves posing as those who are supposed to pickup freight), fell in 2014 by 18% compared to 2013. It believes the drop is “an anomaly due to the fact that fictitious pickups are not always reported and are difficult to classify.”

The key hot spots for cargo thefts in the U.S. remained relatively unchanged last year from 2013, according to FreightWatch.

Florida, although dropping in total incident count, experienced an 8% uptick in its percentage of nationwide thefts, bringing it from third in 2013 into the top spot for 2014 with 21% of the total.

Ad Loading...

It was followed by California, through FreightWatch reported a shift in organized cargo activity from southern California to Washington State and the Pacific Northwest during the third quarter of last year. “While law enforcement entities confirmed this move, several arrests made in Washington appear to have hindered the ability of southern California thieves to operate at full capacity,” FreightWatch said in its report.

Rounding out the top five states for cargo thefts was Texas at number three, down from second place in 2013, followed by Georgia and New Jersey, while cargo theft activity in the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border region increased 38% since 2013.

As for expectations this year CargoNet is forecasting to see more than 200 cargo thefts in first-quarter 2015. So far, more than 120 incidents have been recorded and 9.5% have been high-value thefts in excess of $500,000.

More Fleet Management

TEN disaster prep.
Fleet ManagementMay 1, 2026

How Fleets Can Avoid Equipment Blind Spots in Disaster Response

When the unexpected happens, how you react to, and deal with operational blind spots is critical. Here’s how to keep you recovery on track, when nothing is normal.

Read More →
Illustration of cybersecurity images with "The Cyber Stop" text
Fleet Managementby Ben WilkensApril 30, 2026

AI Security Risks for Trucking Fleets: What to Know About Deepfakes and Agentic AI

As fleets adopt artificial intelligence for routing, maintenance, and load matching, new security risks are emerging. Learn where the vulnerabilities are and how to put the right controls in place.

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

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

The long-awaited registration system promises a single portal — and tighter fraud controls.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
CargoNet 2026 Qi report.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 24, 2026

Cargo Theft Incidents Fall in Q1, but Organized Crime and Impersonation Drive New Risks

CargoNet reports fewer supply chain crime events to start 2026. But losses hold steady as organized crime shifts tactics toward impersonation schemes and high-value goods.

Read More →
Graphic with light bulbs, HDT Truck Fleet Innovators logo, and the word Nominations
Fleet ManagementApril 24, 2026

Nominations Open for HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026

Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.

Read More →
Illustration with trojan horse and lock with inside of cargo container in background
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 23, 2026

New Trojan Driver Cargo Theft Scam Bypasses Carrier Vetting Systems

Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ATA Truck Tonnage Index March 2026.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 22, 2026

March Truck Tonnage Posts Strongest Annual Gain Since 2022

A modest sequential increase capped the strongest quarterly performance in years, signaling continued freight momentum in early 2026.

Read More →
Toll road.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsApril 22, 2026

Ohio Turnpike Targets $5.2 Million in Unpaid Tolls from Trucking Firms

More than 300 carriers across 26 states have been sent to collections as the Ohio Turnpike cracks down on toll evasion and delinquent payments.

Read More →
Illustration with ATRI logo and square blocks spelling out "research"
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeApril 20, 2026

'Beyond Compliance,' Regulations, Driver Coaching on ATRI’s 2026 Research List

The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Brian Antonellis, senior vice president, fleet operations, Fleet Advantage.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsApril 17, 2026

Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis on the Growing Need to Replace Old Trucks

Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis says it's time for fleets to get back to the fundamentals of good maintenance practices. And that includes replacing older, inefficient equipment.

Read More →