GearTrack, in partnership with Verisk’s CargoNet, released the July 2025 Cargo Security Index, revealing a striking increase in organized cargo theft activity across the United States resulting in federal response.
“Cargo crime has evolved into a sophisticated operation driven by insider leaks, advanced surveillance, and AI-enabled coordination,” says Ilan Gluck, general manager of GearTrack. “Our data shows a shifting geographic concentration of thefts, especially in areas with growing warehousing and distribution activity, like Indianapolis and key corridors through Arizona.”
Key takeaways:
· Federal lawmakers introduced the Safeguarding Our Supply Chains Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at systematizing cargo theft prevention. The proposed legislation would establish a Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center co-led by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI that will allocate $100 million in funding over the next four years. The bill reflects a broader push to federalize the response to what industry leaders warn is now a national economic security threat.
· This month’s report shows a 75% rise in theft incidents in Indiana, 40% in Texas, and 35% in Illinois, with a nationwide surge targeting high-value commodities such as vehicles, household goods, and consumer electronics.
· The latest spike in cargo crime, fueled by increases in insider information and advances in AI, underscores the growing vulnerability in domestic freight movement, especially as more manufacturers reshore production and distribute higher-value goods closer to home. GearTrack’s IoT-powered intelligence highlights that cargo thieves are leveraging real-time cargo movements to exploit weak points in supply chains, further amplifying the need for layered, proactive security strategies and protective legislation.
“The bottom line is that organized theft is no longer opportunistic, it’s engineered,” Gluck adds. “Our mission is to equip shippers, carriers, and brokers with the visibility and tools to outpace the threat. It takes more than awareness, it takes action by both supply chain leaders and federal agencies.”
