FBI statistics that indicate $15 to $30 billion is lost to cargo theft annually, and the American Transportation Research Institute is asking motor carriers and brokers to participate in a new research initiative to gather more information on the problem.

Cargo theft – which has evolved from thieves simply stealing cargo to sophisticated impersonation schemes – is becoming more common. As much as $154.6 million in goods were stolen in the first quarter of 2024, according to a report by CargoNet. Just last month, the leaders of a Southeast cargo theft ring were sentenced to prison for more than $1.7 million in cargo thefts.

But many industry stakeholders are hesitant to publicly provide cargo theft data.

ATRI’s survey is designed to confidentially and anonymously collect accurate loss data, as well as identify successful counter-strategies used by both motor carriers and freight brokers.  

Motor carriers and brokers are encouraged to complete the cargo theft survey.

ATRI is a not-for-profit research organization, an offshoot of the American Trucking Associations, perhaps best known for its annual top industry issues survey.

“Cargo theft is a pervasive issue that won’t go away without a collaborative effort,” said Ben Banks, vice president of TCW, a Southeast-based trucking and logistics company and chairman of ATRI's Research Advisory Committee, which each year decides on the research priorities for the organization.

“With accurate cargo theft data, our industry will be able to quantify the issue, and work more effectively with law enforcement and commercial insurance to combat this costly problem.”