NMFTA Warns of Surge and Sophistication of Cyber-Enabled Cargo Theft

The NMFTA warns that traditional cargo theft is being rapidly displaced by sophisticated, cyber-enabled heists, a trend highlighted in its 2026 Transportation Industry Cybersecurity Trends Report, released as part of its ongoing industry guidance. In October, CargoNet reported more than 700 cargo thefts across the US and Canada in the third quarter of 2025, with stolen goods valued at over $111 million.

The broader economic impact of freight crime is significant, with the American Trucking Associations estimating losses to the US economy of up to $35 billion per year. While thieves once relied mainly on gunpoint robberies, attacks are now driven by cyber techniques aimed at brokers, carriers and shippers, with crime syndicates using both deception and digital methods.

According to the NMFTA, cyber intrusions often precede or enable theft, and Proofpoint has detailed a threat actor hacking transportation-company systems to steal physical goods, using remote access tools, social engineering, and compromised credentials to hijack loads and divert shipments. The report also notes the role of AI in driving phishing, deepfake voice calls, and spoofed dispatch updates, alongside techniques such as BEC to manipulate payments and delivery instructions.