Today’s cargo security better protects valuable freight and is vital to the supply chain.
Cargo security is a critical element in the supply chain ensuring the safe and secure transportation of goods. Cargo theft increases costs to businesses and creates dissatisfied customers who don’t receive their products. Cargo must be maximally protected to safeguard contents and while cargo containers have a robust, high-strength construction, there still remains the threat of theft, hijacking, pilferage and break-ins.
In Q4 2024, the freight security network, CargoNet, reported a significant year-over-year increase in theft incidents. Q3 2024 saw a record 776 cargo theft events across the U.S. and Canada. This represents a 14% increase as compared to the prior year’s third quarter. The total value of stolen goods was well over $39 million in Q3 2024. In 2024, cargo theft was responsible for an estimated total loss of nearly $455 million.
Improved cargo security has never been more important than it is today; the demand for black-market goods has exponentially increased. Cargo theft is a very low-risk/highly profitable type of criminal activity with a minor criminal penalty; it can occur during several stages of the transit process. Also, today’s thieves are now highly tech-savvy and constantly developing modern ways and strategies to steal cargo from shippers.
Today’s Asset Protection
Shippers are taking proactive measures to protect their assets. With rising incidents fueled by economic pressures, organized crime, and technological vulnerabilities, they are strengthening their defenses to safeguard cargo.
tamper-evident seals create an initial barrier to entry and are the foundation of security for cargo.
J.J. Keller & Associates image.
Today’s leading cargo-theft prevention strategies blend physical security technologies with digital tracking and layered operational controls. Carriers increasingly rely on GPS-based telematics, real-time geofencing alerts, and remote-immobilization tools to monitor trailer movements and quickly detect unauthorized deviations. “High-security locking hardware, such as hardened padlocks, king-pin locks, air-cuff locks and electronic cargo seals, prevent thieves from simply driving off or breaking into trailers,” says Josh Lovan, industry business advisor at J.J. Keller & Associates, Neenah, Wisc. “Smart locks and electronic seals add anotherlayer by providing tamper evidence and alerting fleets instantly when a breach occurs.”
Many companies also deploy cameras at yards, RFID tracking, and concealed asset-tracking devices placed inside cargo to locate stolen freight even if a trailer is abandoned. Also, “At the operational level, rigorous vetting of carriers and drivers, controlled dispatch procedures, ‘red-zone’ policies requiring drivers to move a certain distance before stopping after pickup, and secure parking protocols dramatically reduce opportunity-based theft,” Lovan says. “Combined, these physical devices, digital monitoring systems, and disciplined operational practices create a layered security approach that makes theft more difficult for criminals.”
Multi-Layered Security Ecosystem
Today’s cargo security can be described as a multi-layered ecosystem with its foundational layer being physical and procedural security. This includes robust hardware like heavy-duty locks and tamper-evident seals that create an initial barrier to entry. This is supported by essential operational protocols, such as comprehensive driver training and secure yard management, which are critical for mitigating opportunistic threats.
that moves security from being passive to active. Geotab GO Anywhere Asset Trackers enable
companies to efficiently manage and track their critical assets using the same platform they use for
their fleet vehicles. Geotab image.
Atlanta-based Geotab provides the next layer: real-time visibility and sensor integration. This is where advanced telematics moves security from being passive to active. “By integrating real-time GPS with a suite of sensors, like trailer door open/close sensors, unauthorized access alerts, and covert asset trackers for detached trailers, we provide a complete operational picture,” says Geotab global strategic account perspective Stephen White. “This technology enables critical, proactive tools like geofencing, which provides an immediate alert if an asset leaves a designated route or secure yard, and exception notifications for unauthorized stops.”
Finally, the most powerful layer is data intelligence and platform integration. White explains that collecting data is only the first step; the true value lies in making it actionable. “A sophisticated, open telematics platform consolidates all these data streams into a single dashboard. This allows security and fleet managers to analyze patterns, identify high-risk routes, and detect abnormal behavior before a theft is completed. This data-driven approach, which must be protected by strong cybersecurity protocols, allows a fleet to move from a reactive to a predictive and preventative security posture.”
Different Cargo, Different Security
A “one-size-fits-all” approach to cargo security is inefficient and ineffective. A security strategy must be tailored to the specific risk profile of the cargo. Different types of cargo require different layers and styles of security, largely based on value, theft trends and vulnerability during transit.
Mode of transport plays a role. “Trucking commonly uses physical locks, geofencing, and route controls; rail and maritime shipments rely heavily on container seals, yard security, and tracking; and air cargo leverages secure facilities and TSA-regulated chain-of-custody protocols,” Lovan says. “Regulatory compliance, especially for hazmat, pharmaceuticals and perishables imposes mandated security plans, background checks and documentation standards that deter theft.”
White says high-value shipments, like electronics, pharmaceuticals, or luxury goods, are prime targets for organized theft. “These require a multi-layered, active security posture. This goes beyond basic tracking to include real-time, second-by-second visibility, immediate alerts for unauthorized door openings, and strict geofencing that triggers an alarm on any route deviation or unscheduled stop.”
Lovan agrees explaining that, “High-value, fast-moving goods like electronics, pharmaceuticals, alcohol and expensive consumer goods typically demand more advanced measures like covert GPS trackers hidden within cartons, team-driver operations for long hauls and secure-lot parking for every stop. Higher-value freight like electronics or pharmaceuticals demands layered protection, from GPS tracking and secure-lot parking to covert asset sensors and strict chain-of-custody verification, because these items are quickly resold and highly targeted.”
Sensitive or controlled commodities like food, medical supplies, alcohol or hazardous materials require additional safeguards like tamper-evident seals, environmental monitoring and vetted drivers to maintain product integrity and comply with federal rules. Temperature-controlled food loads often use door sensors, ISO seals and GPS monitoring to detect tampering or unauthorized door opens, since these products are highly targeted and difficult to recover once stolen.
“Regulated or perishable cargo, such as food or pharmaceuticals, introduces another layer of risk: spoilage and compliance,” White says. “Here, security is about both theft prevention and chain of custody. Our platform addresses this by integrating reefer monitoring solutions to provide a verifiable, end-to-end log of temperature and humidity, ensuring the load is not just secure, but also viable.”
With intermodal transport, one of the biggest vulnerabilities occurs during handoffs. For this, robust asset tracking on the trailer or container itself is needed so that visibility is maintained even when the asset is detached and sitting in a yard. White cautions even lower-value bulk cargo requires a baseline level of protection. “While it may not need a dozen sensors, foundational fleet security and telematics data are essential for protecting against opportunistic theft and ensuring the trailer asset itself is secure. Ultimately, the goal is to scale the technology and data insights to the specific value, sensitivity and operational risk of the asset you are protecting.”
Innovative Technology to Prevent Theft
Technology has fundamentally shifted cargo security from a passive, reactive function to a proactive, intelligent one. It’s no longer just about GPS dots on a map. The standard today is high-resolution asset tracking that integrates deeply with a whole suite of IoT sensors. This results in immediate alerts for unauthorized door openings, unauthorized coupling or critical changes in temperature for sensitive cargo.
“Cutting-edge cargo security involves identity checks, intelligent tracking, hardened hardware and rapid response,” Lovan says. “Digital pickup authentication (one-time PINs or QR codes, photo ID match) shuts down fictitious pickups and double-brokering. Multilayer tracking uses covert battery beacons with satellite/cellular jammer detection. Smart hardware, like encrypted smart locks and seals plus door and side-wall sensors, sends instant tamper alerts. Continuous monitoring using GPS devices and onboard telematics accelerates law-enforcement recovery.”
White contends that the real cutting-edge capability, however, is what we do with that data. By using intelligent analytics and geofencing, the platform can automatically detect anomalies — like a trailer leaving a secure yard after hours or stopping in a known high-risk zone — and trigger immediate, actionable alerts. This data-driven approach allows fleets to proactively manage risk rather than just respond to it.
Technology also enables active intervention. “Solutions like Geotab Keyless can be configured with starter-inhibit functionality, allowing a fleet manager to remotely secure an asset,” White adds. “Of course, this entire system must be protected. A major and critical innovation is the focus on end-to-end cybersecurity, using encryption and signed firmware to ensure the telematics data itself cannot be compromised. Perhaps the most significant innovation is the shift to an open platform ecosystem. This allows fleets to integrate data from virtually anythird-party security device, such as advanced electronic seals or specialized locks, into one unified dashboard, giving operators a single, complete view of their security posture.”
Smarter Criminals
Cargo theft security has been called an evolving cat-and-mouse game. Criminals are moving beyond simple physical attacks and are actively targeting the technology itself.
Criminals can beat cargo security via brute-force physical tampering, cutting through hardware and also by tricking people. Sophisticated criminals use signal jamming to block GPS and cellular communications, effectively making the asset “disappear.” They can find, disable or rip out obvious trackers, cut locks or hinges, slice sidewalls or simply hook up to a preloaded trailer and drive away. They will fake their way in using stolen identities, bogus carriers, counterfeit seals, or last-minute “pickup changes” to fool dispatch and warehouse staff. In a cyber-based attack, they can breach the platform itself, sometimes with insider help, to gain access or alter data.
With the issue of trailer tractors, Lovan says the answer is layered, simple and disciplined: use more than one tracker (one visible, others hidden inside the freight) with alerts if the signal goes dark; lock trailers with heavy-duty locks and hinge/hasp guards; add door-open or wall-cut sensors; and use numbered or photo-verified seals at every handoff.
White says stopping sophisticated criminals going after cargo requires a defense-in-depth approach, which is core to his company’s philosophy. “First, you must harden the hardware. This is why we advocate for covert, ruggedized asset trackers that are difficult to find and built to resist tampering. Second, you must secure the data and the device. This is where our focus on cybersecurity is critical. We use mechanisms like digitally signed firmware and end-to-end encryption. This prevents a criminal from loading malicious firmware onto a device or spoofing its signal. Finally, you must use data intelligence as a defense. A critical feature of our platform is the ability to create real-time alerts for anomalies. If a high-value asset suddenly loses its signal in a high-risk area, that event itself becomes an immediate, actionable alert. This, combined with strong platform-side controls like multi-factor authentication, creates a layered defense that can flag a compromise attempt as it’s happening, not after the asset is already gone.”
Cybersecurity and Cargo
Cargo security is no longer just about the truck; it’s about the data. Data-driven routing is critical. It’s not enough to just secure the asset; you must proactively secure its journey. Telematics data allows fleets to use analytics to identify and avoid high-risk areas and theft hotspots, moving from a reactive to a predictive model.
White explains that many still think of cargo security in terms of physical locks, but today, cybersecurity is cargo security. “A compromised telematics platform is a far greater threat than a bolt-cutter. If a criminal can spoof a location, disable an alert, or gain access to your data, your physical locks are irrelevant. This is why a foundational commitment to data security and securing the platform itself is the most important, and often most overlooked, layer of any modern cargo protection strategy. The total cost of a theft, including reputational damage and supply chain disruption, is far greater than the value of the goods, which makes investing in a secure, data-driven solution the most cost-effective decision a fleet can make.”