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Industry changesApr 22, 20266 min read
Cargo theft is up 28% YoY — these three patterns explain most of it
Strategic theft (fictitious pickup, double-brokering scams) is the fastest-growing category. What to watch.
The trend
Reported cargo theft is up 28% YoY through Q1 2026, with strategic theft (vs. opportunistic) accounting for the majority of growth.
The three patterns
1. Fictitious pickup: a thief poses as a carrier, books the load using a hijacked or fake MC, picks up, and disappears. 2. Double-brokering scams: a "broker" rebrokers a load to a fictitious carrier, pockets the funds, leaves the original broker holding the bag. 3. Identity theft of carriers: legitimate carriers' identities are cloned for a single bad pickup.
What helps
- Verify MC + phone + insurance against FMCSA in real time at booking.
- Require a live driver photo + truck photo at pickup.
- Treat unusually low bids on hot loads as a red flag.
This is exactly why CapMates makes vetting continuous, not one-time.