Cargo Theft On The Rise: Trailer Security Tips and Technologies

A large Great Dane trailer drives down a busy city street, surrounded by cars and tall buildings. The scene captures the trailer navigating an urban environment, with shops, offices, and the Empire State Building visible in the background with smart trailer telematics tracking.

According to the latest report from CargoNet (Verisk Analytics), cargo theft continues to be on the rise. In Q1 2025, the average stolen shipment value reached $237,095, with approximately 787 incidents across the U.S. and Canada totaling around $63 million in losses. The trend accelerated in Q2 2025—with 884 theft events (a 13% year-over-year increase) and a staggering estimated loss value of $128 million.

Criminals are increasingly targeting high-value commodities, like small appliances, liquor, energy drinks, vitamins, supplements, skincare products, and copper.

Here’s something to consider: trailers without GPS tracking are significantly harder to recover compared to those that have it. And since the trailer is what actually holds the cargo, tracking it separately from the truck is essential. That’s why all model-year 2026 Great Dane trailers come standard with built-in FleetPulse asset tracking, giving your fleets the visibility you need to protect what matters most.

Data from FleetPulse telematics shows that Labor Day weekend is the most active time of year for cargo theft, and with the holiday season right around the corner, theft activity is only expected to rise. Staying one step ahead means having the right tools, starting with knowing where your trailers are at all times.

Cargo Theft By The Numbers

While theft at terminals remains a serious concern, the National Retail Federation (NRF) highlights a shift. Criminals are increasingly targeting freight during transport, using fraudulent paperwork, fake pickups, and digitally altered documentation to move entire loads without detection.

According to recent NRF data:

Approximately 52.1% of retailers reported experiencing cargo theft in the past year, up from 49.6% the prior year. Here’s a breakdown of theft locations:

  • 68.1% occurred en route from distribution centers to stores
  • 41.4% occurred during transit from manufacturers to distribution centers
  • 51.7% occurred on the DC‑to‑store leg,
  • 13.8% occurred at distribution centers 

Cargo theft is no longer confined to static locations like depots or truck stops. Organized criminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods to orchestrate large-scale thefts mid-route, often dropping “clean” containers that conceal the missing freight.

So, how can fleets protect themselves?

How to Protect Your Fleet from Cargo Theft

With cargo theft increasing, here are some practical ways you can protect your assets:

  • Install trailer tracking devices like FleetPulseGO: Track to monitor location.
  • Use door sensors to alert you to unauthorized access outside of geofenced areas.
  • Monitor telematics data for unusual activity, such as unexpected weight changes or movements.
  • Regularly review security procedures at depots and truck stops to minimize opportunities for theft.

Thwarting Thieves Through Technology

“Cargo theft is a constant problem in the industry. It’s a consistent request we get from fleets to see how much more we can focus on cargo, cargo protection, cargo condition monitoring, and also cargo theft,” said Ross Joseph, Vice President of Operations at FleetPulse. “So, we worked with our technology partners and developed a new technology called FleetPulseGO: Cargo View.”

FleetPulseGO: Cargo View is a unit that can be mounted in a dry van or a reefer. It takes pictures showing cargo from back to front of the trailer. Ross said fleets can customize the rate at which cargo images are taken and how the system wirelessly connects to door sensors, which take images when doors (roll-up or swing) are opened and closed to see what was added or removed.

“Customers receive the before-and-after picture, and in addition to the camera image, it calculates a volumetric percentage of space available inside the trailer.

When the system detects an empty trailer, it reports 0% loaded. For a half-full trailer, it reports 50%, and similarly, 75% for a three-quarters full load, and so on,” Ross added. “Cargo View provides the user with an easy way to track trailer fullness or how unloaded the trailer is to give customers underutilization data.”

Not only does Cargo View help give quick cargo load readings, but Ross explained that volumetric estimates also help determine whether customers can carry more per load, increasing freight efficiency. Check out this quick video:

Key Features of Cargo View:

  • Before-and-After Images: Capture cargo activity when doors open/close.
  • Volumetric Monitoring: Calculates the percentage of space utilized inside trailers.
  • Efficiency Insights: Helps fleets optimize trailer loads to increase freight efficiency.

Cargo View is more than just a theft prevention tool; it helps fleets track underutilization, increasing productivity while keeping assets secure.

Fleet managers can also use FleetPulsePRO to set alerts based on the VIN to alert them when a specific trailer door is opened outside of a geofenced area. This is just one way to detect if an entire trailer goes missing.

Stay Ahead of Cargo Theft with the Right Tools

Cargo theft is evolving—and so must your approach to protecting valuable freight. From sophisticated fraud schemes to high-risk transit routes, today’s threats demand smarter, more proactive solutions.

We’re committed to helping fleets protect their cargo at every step.

Don’t wait for theft to impact your bottom line—stay prepared, stay protected.

Contact our team today so we can help secure your fleet.