Cargo theft costs the trucking industry over $18 million daily, with auto transport companies increasingly targeted by sophisticated hackers. Thieves infiltrate shipping networks and reroute high-value vehicles, often new models worth around $80,000, to undisclosed locations and sometimes out of the country. An average of three vehicles are hijacked at a time, according to one transport platform. Another scam is called "double brokering," when carriers illegally pass loads to third parties but don't pay the actual transporter, voiding insurance and leaving shippers liable for significant losses. Industry experts emphasize robust cybersecurity to better recognize red flags, like altered contact information, and to use specialized tracking tools.
Ed Garsten is a Senior Contributor at Franco PR. Based in metro Detroit, he specializes in covering autos and mobility, with a focus on topics such as the electric vehicle transition, urban air mobility, and autonomous trucking. His insights and expertise have been featured in prominent outlets including Forbes, Yahoo News Singapore, and Yahoo Finance Canada.
