The legislation is called, The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025.
SAN ANTONIO — According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, cargo thefts are costing the industry up to $35 billion annually, and have gone up by 1500% since 2021. The average cost per theft is valued at $200,000.
It’s a story we first brought you last month after a local CEO and co-founder of a trucking company testified before Congress.
Adam Blanchard says thieves targeted his companies.
Blanchard is the co-founder and CEO of Double Diamond Transport and Tanager Logistics
Blanchard says thieves were able to mimic his companies, websites, emails and were able to steal cargo loads.
“So these bad actors will reach out to these freight brokerages, claiming to be a motor carrier of which they have stolen that identity, and they will have that freight brokerage tender that load to them as though they are gonna transport it,” said Blanchard.
Blanchard says the thieves would represent themselves as a legitimate freight business that has a contract with a trucking company to transport loads.
“Once that cargo is delivered by the legitimate motor carrier, the bad actors will go back and ask to be paid quickly by the original freight broker. They will pocket the cash, and that trucking company will never receive that money,” said Blanchard.
Blanchard says when he tried to report the thefts to law enforcement, he was met with dead ends.
In February, Blanchard testified before Congress, expressing the roadblocks he encountered when dealing with law enforcement.
“The Texas Department of Public Safety informed us this wasn’t their jurisdiction. The FBI recorded our information but never returned our call. The Department of Homeland Security met with us, but refused to investigate. We did our due diligence, but the message was clear. You’re on your own.”
This week, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nevada), reintroduced legislation to better coordinate efforts against cargo thefts.
The law would create a department which would be part of the Department of Homeland Security, and would establish new tools to investigate and prosecute thieves, and recover stolen goods.
The bill is also co-sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
“Until law enforcement makes a statement and starts putting some of these people behind bars, prosecuting them for these criminal activities they’re involved in, they will continue to operate in this space and act with impunity,” said Blanchard.
Blanchard calls cargo thefts an epidemic in the industry and says if they continue unchecked, it could cause the price of goods to go up.
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