Cargo theft is no longer an isolated crime impacting a handful of freight hubs — it has become a rapidly escalating threat to the nation’s supply chain, with Pennsylvania increasingly in the crosshairs.

In December, American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear testified before a House Judiciary Subcommittee, warning lawmakers that the trucking industry’s core mission — delivering America’s freight safely and on time — is being undermined by sophisticated theft networks. Spear emphasized that organized cargo theft has evolved beyond “opportunistic criminals,” increasingly tied to organized crime rings, including in some cases transnational organizations that exploit gaps in enforcement and information-sharing across jurisdictions.

Spear urged Congress to take decisive action, including passage of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), which ATA says would strengthen coordination and data-sharing between federal, state, local, and industry partners — a key missing element in combatting large-scale theft operations that routinely cross state lines.

Cargo theft is increasing the cost of living

In his testimony, Spear stressed that cargo theft is not only a trucking problem — it’s a direct economic issue that impacts American consumers. According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), cargo theft costs the trucking industry an estimated $18 million per day, and across the broader supply chain, losses may total as much as $35 billion annually.

The consequences ripple through the system. Motor carriers are forced to replace stolen products, absorb major delays, and invest heavily in security and technology. At the same time, many carriers face higher insurance premiums and operational disruptions. Those elevated costs do not stop at the fleet level — they ultimately show up in the price of goods that Pennsylvanians purchase every day.

Cargo theft is evolving 

Spear also emphasized that the nature of cargo theft is changing. While traditional “straight theft” still occurs (physical theft from distribution centers, drop lots, or directly from trailers while stopped), criminals are increasingly turning to what Spear described as a more advanced, technology-enabled threat: strategic theft.

Strategic theft involves cyber tactics and identity deception designed to trick legitimate supply chain participants into handing over freight. Criminals impersonate carriers, steal identities, and exploit vulnerabilities in verification processes to divert loads. ATA reports this form of strategic theft has surged dramatically, rising 1,500% since 2021, making it one of the fastest-growing and most difficult threats for fleets to defend against.

For Pennsylvania carriers, this evolution matters because it means cargo theft isn’t limited to a single location, yard, or parking area. It can occur through fraud and manipulation long before a driver ever reaches a destination, and in some cases, the exact location of theft isn’t immediately clear.

New CargoNet data shows theft losses surging — and Pennsylvania is seeing major increases

ATA’s message to Congress aligns closely with newly released analysis from Verisk CargoNet, which shows cargo theft in 2025 becoming both more frequent and far more costly. CargoNet estimates theft losses surged 60% to nearly $725 million, with confirmed theft incidents rising 18%. Perhaps most striking, CargoNet reports the average theft value increased 36% to $273,990, indicating that theft is increasingly organized and targeted rather than opportunistic.

For Pennsylvania, the report carries an especially urgent warning. CargoNet found that theft activity is expanding geographically — and Pennsylvania recorded one of the largest increases in cargo theft activity (+24%). That reflects a reality PMTA members see every day: Pennsylvania sits at the center of Northeast freight movement and contains numerous high-volume distribution corridors that criminals can exploit.

Recent Pennsylvania incidents show how bold and organized cargo theft has become

Pennsylvania has seen multiple high-profile cargo theft incidents in recent months that demonstrate just how coordinated — and how brazen — these operations can be.

In one case in Cumberland County, ABC27 reported that six individuals were charged after authorities recovered approximately $320,000 worth of stolen Apple products, primarily iPads, taken from a tractor-trailer in Middlesex Township. Police stated the theft occurred just after 8:30 p.m. on October 30, when suspects allegedly stopped the tractor-trailer, opened the rear doors, and removed the electronics from the trailer. Investigators believed the theft was tied to an organized cargo theft ring that had targeted Apple products previously. Law enforcement had also placed tracking devices on vehicles believed to be involved — a Ford Transit van and a Kia — and the stolen shipment was ultimately recovered after PA State Police stopped the suspects on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

In another incident in Philadelphia, covered by ABC6, police reported that 10 to 12 masked suspects working in multiple vehicles targeted a tractor-trailer hauling frozen meat in Northeast Philadelphia, breaking into the trailer while the driver slept. The driver confronted the group and chased them off with a baseball bat — but the incident illustrates a growing concern across the industry: cargo theft is increasingly becoming a direct driver safety issue, particularly when theft crews act aggressively and in large numbers.

Both incidents reflect what Spear told lawmakers: theft crews may strike at stops as common as a yard, rest area, or roadside pause. And they are frequently mobile and coordinated, making traditional responses difficult.

The most stolen commodities are shifting 

CargoNet reported some of the fastest-growing theft categories in 2025 were food and beverage (+47%) and metals (+77%), especially high-demand metals tied to copper. These categories often move quickly through secondary markets and can be targeted based on resale value, seasonal demand, or ease of diversion.

That matters in Pennsylvania, where major logistics hubs and high-volume distribution routes create frequent opportunities for criminals to target loads moving into, through, or out of the Commonwealth.

Why the federal role matters

A key point Spear raised in his testimony is that cargo theft is increasingly interstate by nature — and in some cases international. Theft crews cross state lines quickly, use advanced technology, and take advantage of fractured reporting and enforcement structures. In many cases, state and local law enforcement agencies simply lack the resources or jurisdiction needed to dismantle sophisticated, multi-state criminal operations.

This is why ATA argues that stronger federal coordination is essential, and why legislative solutions such as CORCA are being advanced — to help centralize intelligence, improve information-sharing, and provide law enforcement with stronger tools to investigate and deter organized cargo theft.

PMTA takeaway: cargo theft is now a safety, security, and business continuity issue

For Pennsylvania carriers, cargo theft should now be viewed not only as a loss-prevention concern, but as a broader driver safety and operational continuity issue — one that affects fleets of all sizes. Over 90% of motor carriers are small businesses, and many are being forced into an “arms race” of security investments as organized criminals become more sophisticated.

PMTA encourages members to reassess cargo security measures, including stronger parking protocols, yard security, seal controls, verification procedures, cybersecurity readiness, and rapid reporting processes when theft occurs. As organized theft becomes increasingly mobile, coordinated, and technology-driven, “it won’t happen here” is no longer a safe assumption — especially given Pennsylvania’s critical role as a freight gateway for the Northeast.