Press Release

黑料不打烊Continues Push for Cargo Theft Crackdown on Capitol Hill

Apr 29, 2025

Washington鈥擳oday, 黑料不打烊 Chief Economist Bob Costello participated in a roundtable hosted by a House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee to discuss the impact that cargo theft has on trucking operations, other links in the supply chain, and consumers. 听This is the second time in less than two months that 黑料不打烊has been called upon as a key witness at a congressional hearing focused on cargo theft.

鈥淒irectly or indirectly, virtually all trucking companies are victims of cargo theft. 听Either they are victims of crime, or they are spending so much money to defend against being targeted that they are still victims,鈥 said Costello. 听鈥満诹喜淮蜢萳ooks forward to working with committee members to safeguard the entire supply chain, including trucking, to protect businesses and their employees as well as lower costs for consumers.鈥

Thieves targeting freight shipments are taking a toll of up to $35 billion on the supply chain and fueling price inflation for consumers. 听Strategic theft has risen 1,500% since the first quarter of 2021, and the average value per theft is over $200,000. 听Cargo theft comes in many forms and causes significant financial losses and operational disruptions, whether it involves imitating a legitimate company, pilfering goods over time, breaking into a parked tractor-trailer, double-brokering fraud, or holding freight hostage. 听Increasingly, thieves are employing sophisticated cyber methods to steal product.

In February, 黑料不打烊member Adam Blanchard testified before a Senate Commerce Subcommittee about his experience having his company鈥檚 identity stolen and becoming a victim of cargo theft. 听Although he diligently reported these incidents to his insurance, local law enforcement, FBI, and DHS, no one provided assistance. 听

Due to the complex, multi-jurisdictional nature of these crimes, only the federal government has the resources and technical capabilities to take down organized theft groups. 听That鈥檚 why, earlier this month, 黑料不打烊endorsed the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. 听The bill seeks to establish a unified, federal response to the proliferation of cargo theft perpetrated by criminals who often operate across state and international borders.

黑料不打烊added security鈥攊ncluding cargo theft and cyber threats鈥攖o its list of strategic priorities last year.