Industry data
Cargo Theft and Freight Fraud Statistics (2026)
A source-first reference for cargo theft, fictitious pickup, and deceptive pickup data relevant to warehouse and 3PL operations.
Last updated: September 14, 2026
Overall theft volume and losses
- 677 supply chain theft incidents were recorded in the US and Canada in Q2 2026, down 26% year over year (CargoNet/Verisk, Q2 2026).
- Estimated losses more than doubled to $304.6 million in Q2 2026, up from $135.7 million in Q2 2025 (CargoNet/Verisk, Q2 2026).
- Overhaul recorded 574 US cargo theft incidents in Q1 2026, an average of 6.4 per day (Overhaul, Q1 2026).
Fictitious and deceptive pickup
- Fictitious pickup incidents held roughly flat at 158 in Q2 2026 versus 165 a year earlier (CargoNet/Verisk, Q2 2026).
- Theft-classified events overall fell from 488 to 378 between the comparable periods (CargoNet/Verisk, Q2 2026).
- Deceptive pickup schemes rose 31% year over year in Q1 2026 and accounted for roughly 10% of all incidents (Overhaul, Q1 2026).
| Measure | Q2 2026 | Prior period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supply chain theft incidents | 677 | Down 26% year over year | CargoNet/Verisk, Q2 2026 |
| Estimated losses | $304.6M | $135.7M in Q2 2025 | CargoNet/Verisk, Q2 2026 |
| Fictitious pickup incidents | 158 | 165 a year earlier | CargoNet/Verisk, Q2 2026 |
Where theft happens
- California accounted for 36% of Q1 2026 cargo theft incidents (Overhaul, Q1 2026).
- Texas accounted for 17% of Q1 2026 cargo theft incidents (Overhaul, Q1 2026).
- Illinois accounted for 13% of Q1 2026 cargo theft incidents, up from 6% a year earlier (Overhaul, Q1 2026).
What gets stolen
- Electronics accounted for 17% of Q1 2026 incidents (Overhaul, Q1 2026).
- Food and drinks accounted for 15% of Q1 2026 incidents (Overhaul, Q1 2026).
- Auto and parts accounted for 11% of Q1 2026 incidents (Overhaul, Q1 2026).
- Clothing and shoes accounted for 11% of Q1 2026 incidents (Overhaul, Q1 2026).
The longer trend
- Strategic cargo theft grew roughly 1,500% from 2022 to 2024 (Travelers).
- Fictitious pickups rose from an average of about 66 per year from 2012 to 2022 to 576 in 2023 (CargoNet).
What the numbers mean for a dock
Fewer theft-classified events do not remove the need to check the handoff. The Q2 2026 figures show why: incident volume fell while estimated losses more than doubled (CargoNet/Verisk, Q2 2026).
The dock is where an operator can join the carrier, driver, equipment, and load before custody changes. Driver identity verification at the dock adds an identity validation result to that appointment record. Intellicheck verifies the 2D PDF417 barcode on the back of a US or Canadian license or state-issued ID. Dock Optimizer matches the result against the appointment and surfaces it to the operator.
The result supports a decision. It does not make an automatic release or refusal decision. The operator reviews the record and acts according to the facility's process.
Conmitto. "Cargo Theft and Freight Fraud Statistics (2026)." conmitto.io, last updated September 14, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many supply chain theft incidents were recorded in Q2 2026?
CargoNet/Verisk recorded 677 supply chain theft incidents in the US and Canada in Q2 2026, down 26% year over year.
How many fictitious pickup incidents were recorded in Q2 2026?
CargoNet/Verisk recorded 158 fictitious pickup incidents in Q2 2026, compared with 165 a year earlier.
What do cargo theft statistics mean for a warehouse?
The dock is the point where an operator can connect the carrier, driver, equipment, and load before custody changes. A driver identity validation result gives the operator another record to review against the appointment.