The Wake-Up Call: Why Cargo Theft Can No Longer Be Ignored
The U.S. supply chain has become more volatile in recent years. Rising rates, tighter capacity, and widespread cargo theft and fraud have added pressure on operators. Calls for stronger oversight went largely unanswered until 2025, when the Department of Transportation issued a request for information on protecting the supply chain from cargo theft. The move followed a surge in strategic theft, fraudulent carrier activity, and accidents tied to poorly vetted drivers. For many, the RFI confirmed what they already knew: cargo theft is not just a commercial risk. It is a national security issue. The supply chain supports food, pharmaceuticals, and defense. Its resilience depends on visibility, accountability, and trust.
What the RFI Revealed
Across 40 submissions, stakeholders described the same core challenges. Four themes stood out.
Fragmented Oversight and Reporting Gaps
Stakeholders highlighted the lack of unified reporting and overlapping jurisdictions. Separate databases, state-by-state processes, and limited data sharing create blind spots that criminals exploit. Groups such as TAPA, TIA, and the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association called for national reporting standards and cross-agency coordination. Without a single source of truth, trends go unseen, enforcement stays reactive, and prevention lags.
Technology and Real-Time Visibility
Technology firms and operators agreed that modern digital infrastructure is the strongest tool against cargo theft. Submissions from Samsara, FleetUp, Avalon Risk Management, and Iveda Solutions stressed real-time tracking, GPS and IoT integration, and AI-driven verification to catch anomalies before a shipment is lost. Several asked for federal support to enable data sharing between private platforms and government, so risk signals flow across brokers, carriers, and law enforcement. At Indemni, we share this view. Real-time visibility backed by verified driver identity, equipment data, and digital audit trails reduces fraud, lowers admin cost, and speeds claims.
Regulatory Loopholes and FMCSA Enforcement Gaps
Brokers pointed to loopholes in FMCSA processes, especially around issuing and managing MC numbers. Fraudulent carriers can re-register under new credentials within days and avoid accountability. Respondents called for a centralized reporting hub for theft and fraud and tougher penalties. Many also pushed for stronger oversight of broker-carrier agreements, where inconsistent documentation and weak verification create liability gray zones. Regulation alone is not enough. Without digital enforcement, such as automated checks and shared compliance databases, paper rules will keep falling short.
Workforce Safety and Driver Protection
Advocacy groups reminded the DoT that theft is also a safety issue. Organizations including Real Women in Trucking and Truckers Emergency Assistance Responders highlighted risks at unsecured rest stops, weigh stations, and overnight facilities. Theft and fraud carry financial and psychological costs for drivers, many of whom are small business owners. Protection requires better enforcement and better security infrastructure at logistics hubs.
Why This Matters for the Future of Risk Management
The submissions describe a fragmented system: fragmented data, authority, and accountability. For a network that moves trillions of dollars in goods, fragmentation is systemic risk. The fix is to move from paper-based compliance to integrated risk systems that detect and verify in real time. Digital identity and visibility are central. Connecting driver, vehicle, and shipment credentials to verified digital identity prevents fraudulent pickups, strengthens compliance, and creates an auditable chain of custody at every handoff. At Indemni, we see risk visibility as a competitive advantage that builds trust among brokers, shippers, and carriers. Our platform enables driver verification, equipment validation, and document authentication in minutes, turning manual checks into automated safeguards that scale.
The Road Ahead
The DoT’s engagement is a turning point. Prevention will require both policy and private-sector action. Success depends on:
Interoperable data standards between government and industry
Secure information sharing that protects privacy while enabling transparency
Investment in technology that produces actionable intelligence, not just after-the-fact reports
Cargo theft has shifted from opportunistic crime to coordinated, digitally enabled operations. Protection must evolve to match. Indemni supports a collaborative approach that unites enforcement, operators, and technology providers to make supply chain risk visible, measurable, and preventable.
Looking Ahead
This article starts Indemni’s series on the DoT RFI findings. Next up:
“America’s Cargo Theft Blind Spot: Why Disconnected Oversight Hurts Everyone.”
