The Freight Network Is Now the Crime Scene

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Traditional measures like locks, tracking, and insurance are no longer enough to prevent cargo theft. Q2 data shows that financial losses from inadequate security are rising quickly, regardless of the reporting source.

In Q2 2026, Overhaul recorded 605 cargo theft cases in the United States, a 5% increase from Q1 but 5% lower than Q2 2025. California and Texas accounted for over half of these incidents, with 34% and 18%, respectively. Electronics represented 23% of thefts, and Southern California remained the most exposed region.

Verisk CargoNet reported 677 supply-chain theft cases in the United States and Canada in Q2, down 14% from Q1 and 26% from the previous year. However, estimated losses more than doubled to $304.6 million, compared to $135.7 million in Q2 2025.

Attention should shift from incident counts to operational impact. Cargo theft is now more targeted, digitally advanced, and increasingly costly per incident.

Different Numbers, Same Warning

The two main datasets cover different regions and use different methods, so their totals are not directly comparable. Overhaul’s U.S. report shows more incidents quarter-over-quarter, while CargoNet’s U.S. and Canada data shows fewer events but much higher financial losses.

These findings should not lead to complacency. They underscore the ongoing risk.

Keith Lewis, CargoNet's vice president of operations, stated plainly that: "A reduction in the number of incidents should not be taken to mean that the risk is lower. The groups causing the largest losses are not necessarily aiming to steal more freight; instead, they are attempting to identify the correct shipment."

This is critical for carriers, brokers, forwarders, and shippers. The threat has shifted from opportunistic theft to targeted schemes, including identifying valuable freight, accessing credentials, impersonating trusted parties, redirecting shipments, and using established resale channels.

The Q2 Scoreboard: Where Cargo Theft Hit Hardest

• In the United States, Overhaul recorded 605 cases of theft, a rise of 5percent from Q1 2026 and a decrease of 5 percent compared to Q2 2025. Overhaul
• California accounted for 34% of the U.S. incidents reported by Overhaul, while Texas accounted for 18%. Taken together, the two states made up 52% of the incidents. This information comes from FreightWaves' report on the Overhaul data.
• Electronics accounted for 23 percent of the cases in Overhaul's second quarter, making it the most frequently recorded category of goods. FreightWaves
• Within 200 miles of Torrance, California, 37% of all U.S. thefts in the past 12 months occurred, averaging 81 incidents per month. This represents a 28% increase over the previous period. FreightWaves
• Verisk CargoNet stated that CargoNet estimated losses of $304.6 million for the second quarter, with the average commodity value per case being $564,090, although a small number of losses in the millions of dollars caused the average to rise.
• In the first six months of 2026, CargoNet estimated its losses at over $359 million, with the average value of stolen goods at about $341,518. This was the point at which CargoNet issued its July 4 advisory.

Southern California Isn't a Hotspot — It's a Chokepoint

Cargo theft in Southern California is closely linked to the region's freight organization.

High cargo velocity from the Los Angeles–Long Beach gateway, Inland Empire warehouses, drayage flows, e-commerce fulfillment, retail distribution, and dense freight networks is an economic asset but also increases vulnerability to theft.

The California Highway Patrol identifies Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego as the state's primary cargo theft hotspots. Current data indicates a persistent structural issue, not a temporary anomaly.

In the area of Southern California covered by Overhaul, about seven out of every ten cases took place within 50 miles of Torrance. 55 percent of the incidents were linked to warehouses and distribution centers. Pilferage was the most common method, accounting for 45 percent of the local cases, and deceptive pickup increased from 24 percent to 28 percent as compared with the previous analysis period. FreightWaves

Freight leaders should prioritize these areas.

Historically, cargo security was viewed primarily as an over-the-road issue involving truck stops, unsecured parking, unattended equipment, and late-night pickups. While these risks remain, Q2 data highlights that the most vulnerable points are now the physical and digital handoffs where freight ownership changes:

• Warehouse release and dock scheduling
• Load tender acceptance
• Carrier onboarding and authority verification
• Email and transportation-management-system access
• Dispatch instructions and routing changes
• Trailer dwell time at facilities and yards
• Appointment rescheduling and shipment redirection

The handoff, not the highway, is often the weakest point in a freight shipment.

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