Cargo theft continues to climb year after year, and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is now asking truck drivers and other industry professionals to weigh in on how to stop it.
Cargo Theft Losses Continue to Climb
The numbers paint a troubling picture. According to CargoNet, a New Jersey-based logistics security firm, theft-related losses jumped 13% in the second quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. In just three months, the losses were valued at more than $61 million.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau has also raised concerns. The group is projecting a 22% year-over-year rise in losses this year, fueled in part by increasingly sophisticated theft methods and cyber-enabled attacks targeting the supply chain.
DOT Seeks Feedback from the Industry
To address the problem, the DOT issued a request for information on September 19. The department is inviting feedback from truckers, carriers, law enforcement, federal partners, and others who play a role in protecting freight.
“These crimes involve opportunistic ‘straight thefts’ of trailers, containers, and loads at truck stops or multimodal distribution hubs and highly coordinated operations conducted by organized criminal networks,” the DOT explained. “Both categories create significant economic losses, disrupt supply chains, and in some cases fund broader illicit activities such as narcotics trafficking, counterfeiting, and human smuggling.”
The department is asking for insight on:
- Which commodities are most at risk?
- The types of theft scenarios drivers and carriers are seeing most often.
- The technologies and practices already being used to reduce exposure.
Possible Steps Forward
Officials say the responses will help shape next steps. The DOT noted that public input could guide efforts to:
- Work with law enforcement to close regulatory gaps that allow unsafe carriers to re-enter under new names.
- Strengthen how cargo theft risks are assessed by using shared data from federal, state, and industry partners.
- Expand coordination with Homeland Security, FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and local agencies.
- Build new initiatives with industry stakeholders to reduce losses and improve supply chain security.
How to Get Involved
The public comment period is open for 30 days. Drivers, carriers, and other stakeholders can submit feedback online at Regulations.gov by referencing Docket No. DOT–OST–2025–1326. All comments must be submitted by October 20, 2025.
Source: Land Line Media
