Holiday Cargo Theft: How Truckers Can Protect Loads
By iAgency
The holiday rush is good news for trucking. More freight means more loads and better rates for carriers who are ready. But busy weeks also bring more risk. Cargo thieves pay close attention to peak season, and the latest numbers show they are going after bigger, higher-value loads. The good news: most of the steps that stop them are simple, low-cost habits your drivers and dispatchers can start this week.
Key takeaways
Fewer thefts, bigger losses. Verisk CargoNet counted 677 cargo theft incidents in the U.S. and Canada in the second quarter of 2026, down 26% from a year earlier. Estimated losses more than doubled to $304.6 million.
Thieves pick targets. Metals, enterprise computer equipment and crypto mining hardware were top targets. These loads often move as plain dry freight.
Email is the new break-in. Hacked business email accounts let criminals see load details, pose as trusted partners and change pickup or delivery instructions.
The holidays are a known hot spot. CargoNet data shows Dec. 23 has been the busiest single day for theft over the last five holiday seasons.
What the latest cargo theft data shows
Cargo theft keeps changing shape. In its report for April through June 2026, Verisk CargoNet found that the number of thefts fell, but the dollar losses jumped. The average theft with a reported value was $564,009, pushed up by a few multimillion-dollar losses. Metal thefts rose from 54 to 80 incidents, with copper the most common target.
CargoNet's Keith Lewis said the groups behind the largest losses are "trying to identify the right shipment." In plain terms, thieves are doing their homework. A Stacker report on October 14 noted that full-year 2025 losses reached nearly $725 million, about 60% higher than 2024.
There is real progress, too. Non-delivery schemes, where criminals set up or buy a carrier just to steal loads, declined in the second quarter. So did thefts of unattended loaded trailers in some areas, including Dallas-Fort Worth and South Florida. Better vetting and tracking are working.
How the schemes work now
Most modern cargo theft is fraud, not force. Watch for these patterns:
Business email compromise. A phishing email gives a criminal access to a carrier or broker inbox. From there they learn about upcoming loads and contacts.
Fake changes to a load. A "broker" or "shipper" emails or calls with a new delivery address or a new pickup driver. The message looks real because it comes from a real, hacked account.
Fictitious pickups. A thief poses as a legitimate carrier and shows up to collect freight with the right-looking paperwork.
Diverted loads. The FBI has warned about schemes where a real driver collects a load that is then sent to a criminal-controlled site and moved to another truck.
For more on spotting fake websites and messages, see our guide to the Motus scam and fake FMCSA registration sites.
Seven ways to protect your loads this season
Verify every change through a second channel. If delivery details change, call the broker or shipper at a number you already have, not the one in the new email.
Lock down email. Turn on multi-factor authentication and train everyone who touches dispatch to spot phishing.
Do not leave loaded trailers unattended. Plan secure parking before the trip, especially around weekends and holidays when warehouses close.
Avoid stopping right after pickup. Fuel up and rest before you load, so your first stop is well away from the shipper.
Record pickup details. Note the driver name, plate, tractor and trailer numbers, and DOT and MC numbers at every handoff.
Use tracking and locks. GPS trackers, kingpin locks and high-security seals make your load a harder target.
Write a theft plan. Decide who calls police, who calls the broker and who calls your insurance agent, and keep those numbers in every cab.
Our risk control services team can help you build these steps into a written security plan.
Check your cargo coverage before peak season
Cargo theft is also an insurance question. Not every policy treats every loss the same way. Before the holidays, review these points with your agent:
Limits. Does your limit match the value of the loads you haul now? Higher-value freight may need a higher limit.
Theft conditions. Some policies have conditions about unattended vehicles, locks or alarms. Know what yours requires.
Fraud and false pickups. Ask how your policy handles a load released to an impostor.
Commodity exclusions. Electronics, metals and other targeted goods may be excluded or limited.
Learn more on our cargo coverage page or in our guide to motor truck cargo insurance.
Want to make sure your coverage fits the freight you haul this season? Start an online quote and we will review it with you.
Frequently asked questions
When is cargo theft most likely during the holidays?
CargoNet data covering five holiday seasons shows most thefts happened in the week ending Dec. 29, with Dec. 23 the busiest day. Long weekends, closed warehouses and loaded trailers left in lots raise the risk.
What kinds of loads do thieves target?
Recent CargoNet data points to metals like copper, enterprise computer and networking equipment, and crypto mining hardware. During the holidays, electronics, alcohol, appliances, tools and auto parts are also common targets.
Does motor truck cargo insurance cover theft?
Theft is often a covered cause of loss, but conditions, limits and exclusions vary by policy. Some policies require locks, alarms or attended parking. Review your policy terms with your agent.
What should a driver do if a load is stolen?
Call 911 first. Then notify your dispatcher, the broker or shipper, and your insurance agent as soon as possible. Keep photos, bills of lading, messages and any video.
About iAgency
iAgency is a commercial trucking insurance agency for owner-operators, small fleets and the partners who support them, including dispatchers, factoring companies and accountants.
Call or text 469-501-1071, email coi@iagency.biz for certificates, or get an online quote.
Source: Stacker, Cargo theft losses have more than doubled ahead of the holiday rush (Oct. 14, 2026). Figures checked against Verisk, Cargo Theft Losses More Than Double to $304 Million in Q2 (Aug. 6, 2026).
Photo: David Pisnoy on Unsplash.
This article is general information, not coverage or legal advice. Coverage depends on your policy terms.