ATRI Seeks Input from Motor Carriers and Freight Brokers on Cargo Theft 

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is launching a new initiative to gather data on cargo theft. ATRI invites motor carriers and freight brokers to participate in a confidential survey. This effort is part of ATRI’s research into the escalating issue of cargo theft within the industry. 

Cargo theft has become increasingly sophisticated, evolving from simple thefts to complex impersonation schemes, making it a growing concern for many stakeholders. In March 2024, ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee highlighted the urgency of this issue by referencing FBI statistics that estimate annual losses from cargo theft to be between $15 billion and $30 billion. As a result, the committee has prioritized research in this area. 

“Cargo theft is a pervasive issue that won’t go away without a collaborative effort,” Ben Banks, VP of TCW, said. “With accurate cargo theft data, our industry will be able to quantify the issue and work more effectively with law enforcement and commercial insurance to combat this costly problem.” 

Despite the severity of cargo theft, many industry participants are reluctant to share their loss data publicly. ATRI’s survey aims to address this concern by providing a confidential and anonymous platform for motor carriers and freight brokers to report losses and share effective counter-strategies they have employed to combat theft. 

Motor carriers and brokers are encouraged to complete the survey.