It’s 3:45 am. While everyone else won’t wake for another three hours, “Henry” is surrounded by screens. He sips an expensive coffee. By the time the day is through, he’ll have made more than most truckers make in a month.
Henry isn’t a tech executive, trader, or developer: he’s a member of a cargo crime ring, making his fortune on the stolen loads of prolific carriers and shippers. And his industry turned more than $6 billion in 2025.
Combatting freight crime can feel daunting, but the first step is to know your enemy.
Here’s a look at the day in the life of a cargo crime ring.
Who are Freight Thieves?
Historically, freight theft required a ski mask, a crowbar, and an opportunity. Today, thieves are armed with tech set-ups rivaling Silicon Valley.
Henry, for example, has a master’s degree in supply chain management, speaks three languages, and knows more about freight than most brokers. Without excusing his dishonorable trade, Henry is, undoubtedly, brilliant.
His work is meticulous, calculated, and as coordinated as his strait-laced counterparts. His workspace is littered with burner phones, whiteboards, and an endless list of dormant DOT numbers.
And the worst part? He’s not alone.
Meet the Team
By 6 am, Henry assembles the team via encrypted messages, functioning as fluidly as traditional teleworkers.
“Maria” monitors port activities in Tampa, “Harry” reports on railroad movements in Michigan, and “Brian” keeps track of highway movements with the precision of a reporter. They work with the coordination of a corporation, down to standardized operating procedures.
They get to work.
The Grind
Despite their unsavory mission, this team has an outstanding work ethic.
The team is constantly scrolling freight boards, evaluating shipping lanes, and vetting carriers on social media. Their target? High-value shipments and carriers with vulnerabilities. Today, they intend to effortlessly hijack a load of electronics valued at $500,000.
This heist isn’t spontaneous. They’ve been following this route for weeks. Not only that, they’ve also been keeping tabs on the carrier. They can tell you the carrier’s schedule, favorite routes, and even their preferred NFL team. They thank social media for that.
Terrifyingly, they even placed GPS trackers on their targeted carrier at a red light. They’ve scoped out a warehouse with drones. They even have contacts at the docking bay.
The trap is set.
The Heist
Everything seems normal when Henry’s team shows up to take the load. The forged paperwork looks legitimate, the stolen credentials check out, and the DOT number is traceable to a genuine carrier.
The “company” even has a website and social media.
$500,000 worth of electronics leaves the dock without issue.
Then, Maria makes the defining move. Posing as the carrier, she calls the broker and notifies them that they will pursue a “route optimization.”
The call ends. Henry’s team activates GPS jammers. They’re untraceable.
Four hours later, the heist is complete. The load is off to international markets at a 70% margin.
The legitimate carrier arrives at the dock later that day. The broker tries to piece together what happened, but it’s too late: the heist is complete.
Why the Story?
To be clear, freight theft is awful. This story is not intended to glorify criminals.
Instead, it can stand as a wake-up call for how sophisticated freight crime has become.
Now that you know what you’re up against, you may be more skeptical of urgent loads, overly enthusiastic brokers, and anything unusual.
Stay safe, truckers.
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