It could be a costly Memorial Day weekend for trucking companies, as cargo theft activity has already surged to “unprecedented levels” ahead of the holiday, during which such activity tends to rise further.
That, according to CargoNet, which warns current theft levels are well above historical averages and holiday-period theft from the past five years reveals a heightened risk for the coming holiday.
“Our data shows that holiday weekends consistently create perfect opportunities for cargo thieves,” says Keith Lewis, vice-president of operations at CargoNet. “The days immediately following Memorial Day have historically seen elevated theft activity, likely because loaded trailers are often left unattended while businesses close for the holiday.”
CargoNet’s analysis of 159 theft events occurring between the Thursday before Memorial Day and the Wednesday after Memorial Day over the past five years shows an upward trend. While 2020 recorded 35 incidents and 2021 saw 28, the numbers climbed significantly in recent years with 41 events in 2023 and 39 in 2024.
“This steady increase mirrors the overall surge in cargo theft we’ve observed throughout the supply chain,” says Lewis. “What’s particularly concerning is that 2025 has already shattered previous records, with our analysts now processing an average of 338 theft reports monthly compared to our historical average of 136 reports per month from 2013 through October 2022, before the current crime wave began.”
CargoNet reports that California, Texas and Florida are the most targeted states. Thieves tend to seek out specific commodities during Memorial Day, including non-alcoholic beverages (notably energy drinks), major appliances, and full truckload shipments containing mixed consumer goods destined for retailers.
“What’s notable about 2025 is how quickly cargo thieves have adapted their targeting strategies to focus on commodities that have seen recent surges in demand or value,” says Lewis. “Our data shows a significant shift toward copper, vehicle accessories, energy drinks, alcoholic beverages, footwear, and meat products as primary targets this year.”
CargoNet suggests fleets enhance security protocols over the long weekend.
Brampton cargo theft on the rise
A global cargo theft report, from BSI, reported a rise in rail thefts in the U.S. In North America, 54% of cargo thefts occurred in Mexico, 40% in the U.S. and just 4% in Canada. However, BSI reported an increase in “strategic thefts” – especially those exploiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities – in Brampton, Ont.
Most North American cargo thefts occur when the load is in transit (38%), followed by at warehouses (11%). Thefts from rail jumped to 19% of all cargo theft incidents, up sharply from 6% last year, BSI reported.
Thieves targeting rail loads sought out footwear, electronics and hand and power tools. In some instances, the thieves are disabling trains to access the loads.
“We anticipate these cargo theft trends, particularly strategic theft and rail theft, continuing to be a growing concern for the region looking ahead to Q2 and throughout 2025,” BSI said of the North American market.
