FreightCasts

Cargo theft is changing fast .... and freight fraud is getting EXPENSIVE. Cargo theft incidents dropped 26% in Q2 2026, yet reported losses surged to $304.6 MILLION. Fewer thefts. More than double the money stolen.

So HOW are freight thieves doing it  and who pays when they succeed?

On this episode of Brake Check, Charles Gracey sits down with Jared Flinn, founder of ⁠BulkLoads.com⁠, and freight risk expert Drew Wilder to expose the new reality of cargo theft and trucking fraud.

We're breaking down freight fraud, double brokering, cloned carrier identities, stolen MC numbers, fake certificates of insurance (COIs), cargo claims, broker fraud, vicarious liability and trucking insurance ... including how legitimate motor carriers can get dragged into claims involving freight they NEVER hauled.

More importantly: How do you protect your trucking company before it happens?

What should you verify before booking a load? How can you spot a fake COI?

What happens when a broker disappears?

What should you do if someone steals your carrier identity?

Who actually pays for stolen cargo?

And what documentation could save your company when a claim lands months later?

This isn't another conversation about how bad freight fraud has become.This is how you keep somebody else's crime from becoming YOUR bill.

If you're a truck driver, owner-operator, motor carrier, freight broker, dispatcher, fleet owner, shipper, insurance professional or anyone working in trucking and logistics, this episode could change what you check before your next load moves.

Watch before your next load gets booked.

#CargoTheft #FreightFraud #Trucking #DoubleBrokering #OwnerOperator #FreightBroker #TruckingInsurance #SupplyChain

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining a strategic bet on orchestration software as national parcel carriers continue to shed unprofitable volume. Last-mile delivery technology company Burq is wagering that enterprise retailers will pay for orchestration platforms that sit above the growing bench of regional carriers and gig courier networks. With fifty-five percent of retailers now using carriers outside FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, and alternative carriers moving two point six billion parcels last year, the last-mile delivery duopoly is rapidly eroding.

Next, we discuss a messy legal battle in the air cargo sector that has officially come to an end. Miami-based charter operator Global Crossing Airlines has dismissed its thirty-million-dollar breach-of-contract lawsuit against Ascent Global Logistics and terminated their exclusive brokerage agreement. GlobalX had alleged its former investment partner failed to honor an agreement to steer air cargo business its way, and during the second quarter, the carrier's cargo revenue dropped two point nine million dollars, or about fifty percent, year over year.

Finally, we explore a sophisticated international freight fraud operation as Armenian authorities busted a Yerevan-based group that posed as American carriers and converted stolen freight proceeds into crypto. Cyber police raided commercial space inside a Yerevan hotel on July twenty-third, where suspects allegedly used specialized computer equipment to gain trust from businesses arranging transportation services, then redirected shipments to different locations instead of completing intended deliveries.

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Join Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp on FreightWaves Today as they break down the critical developments shaping the freight, logistics, and supply chain markets.

In the morning minute, they A look at an alarming $111 million wave of high-tech cargo thefts targeting semiconductor and data center freight, featuring coordinated "bump and run" syndicate tactics. Plus, an urgent FBI tax fraud investigation involving self-employed truck drivers in Georgia, and Mexico's surging heavy-duty truck production and export gains.

Drone Warfare & Supply Chains: Analysis of Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian distribution hubs—including Wildberries facilities—and what targeting fulfillment networks means for modern logistics vulnerability.

Freight Payments & Shippers of Choice: Jeff Pape (US Bank Corporate Payment Systems) stops by to discuss rising freight payment predictability, early holiday peak planning, emerging AI applications in logistics, and credit quality across the sector.

SONAR Market Update: Craig and Julie break down SONAR’s Tender Lead Time Index (OU.TLT), examining why shippers are tendering freight further in advance, how lead times impact tender rejections, and how to utilize the SONAR Coverage Guide to manage spot rate volatility.

Real-World Tesla Semi Demo: Bob Lewis from Intercoastal Trucking shares first-hand driver feedback from testing the Tesla Semi in hard Northeast corridors, discussing range management, regenerative braking, maintenance savings, and charging infrastructure challenges.

The Freight Cycle Debate: Ken Adamo (Chief Strategy Officer at Ease Logistics) and Dr. Jason Miller engage (Michigan State University) in a debate over capacity supply, driver availability, data center demand surges, and regulatory enforcement shifts.

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This episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? delivers a fast-paced mix of sports banter, logistics headlines, and industry insights, running for a tight 44 minutes out of respect for Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Episode Highlights:

FBI Tax Fraud Case: A 54-count federal indictment involving a Georgia tax preparer who targeted independent truck drivers through a word-of-mouth referral scheme.

High-Tech Cargo Theft: The hosts preview an upcoming segment with Scott Cornell regarding a “bump and run” tactic used by cargo thieves targeting high-value data center shipments, detailing how stolen loads in these schemes can total tens of millions of dollars.

Cross-Border Contraband: The duo breaks down a recent seizure at Ontario’s Blue Water Bridge, where Canadian border officers intercepted three US semi-trucks carrying nearly $6.6 million (CAD) worth of illicit vapes and nicotine pouches.

Jake Hoffman (CTO, Gnosis Freight): Jake Hoffman joins the show to discuss data fragmentation and execution in global supply chains. He highlights the history behind Auburn University’s “War Eagle” tradition before explaining how Gnosis Freight aggregates ocean, satellite, and terminal data into an actionable platform. He emphasizes that clean, accurate data is an essential foundation before AI can effectively automate logistics tasks, handle load tendering, or assist with purchase order management.

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In this episode, we kick things off with an alarming wave of high-tech cargo theft that's costing the freight industry a staggering fortune. Cargo thieves have stolen nearly $111 million in data center freight since early June, with individual cases ranging from $2 million to a jaw-dropping $38 million. In a disturbing new tactic, criminals deliberately crashed into security escorts protecting high-value technology shipments, then continued driving with the loads in what experts call the "bump-and-run" method.

Next, we discuss a massive fraud case unfolding in Georgia where the FBI is urgently seeking truck drivers nationwide who may be victims in a 54-count tax fraud indictment. Federal prosecutors charged 62-year-old Diane Marie Poe, owner of Genuine Financial Services in Walton County, with 32 counts of bank fraud and 14 payroll-related tax offenses. Prosecutors accuse Poe of keeping money that customers provided for estimated tax obligations instead of delivering promised services, with at least 26 identified clients working as self-employed truck drivers who relied on her company for bookkeeping and tax preparation.

Finally, we head south to examine how Mexico's heavy-duty truck production surged 51.8% in July as tariff tensions continue to simmer. Mexico's National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Producers reported that manufacturers produced 14,675 heavy-duty vehicles during July, while exports climbed 66.7% year over year to 13,117 units. With a staggering 92.4% of Mexico's truck and bus exports through July shipped to the United States, ANPACT officials are urging policymakers to preserve the USMCA's core principles and renewing their call for changes to Section 232 tariffs.

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On this episode of Freight Expectations, Craig Fuller and Matthew Leffler dig into the latest fight over federal trucking regulation, including the push to make English-language proficiency an out-of-service violation and the broader battle between states and the federal government over commercial driver records.

But the conversation takes a much bigger turn as Craig and Matt examine the growing threat of drone warfare to supply chains. From refineries and airports to warehouses, rail yards and ports, they explore how inexpensive, widely available drone technology could create enormous disruption to critical logistics infrastructure—and why businesses may be poorly prepared for a threat that hasn't happened to them yet.

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In this episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp explore key headlines and developments across the logistics, trucking, and transportation sectors. The show features discussions on the state of trailer insurance, driver recruitment and health, alongside live market analysis via FreightWaves SONAR.

Andy Kuchar explains that freight brokers and logistics companies utilizing leased trailer pools are frequently exposed to unmanaged liability risks. Many traditional commercial auto policies contain exclusions for trailers when they are over the road. He points out three warning signs of coverage gaps: reliance on "contingent" coverage language, assuming a third-party driver’s Certificate of Insurance protects you, and lacking a dedicated trailer policy.

In our SONAR Update, we see that tender rejections have moderated around 13.5%, overall rejection metrics and spot rates remain significantly higher compared to recent years (up ~21% year-over-year). Craig and Julie characterize explain that this is typical seasonal behavior before the late-summer and Labor Day ramp-up.

Jeremy Reymer introduces Project 61, a non-profit initiative created to address the alarmingly low average lifespan of commercial truck drivers (61 years old). The program focuses on practical, free lifestyle improvements for drivers centered on food/nutrition, movement, sleep/recharge, mental health, and preventative care. The segment highlights how driver health directly correlates to highway safety and accident risk reduction.

In our 2nd hour, it's return of the Matt! Matthew Leffler joins Craig for an episode of Freight Expectations. The two cover the FMCSA’s proposed rulemaking to codify English language proficiency as an out-of-service violation. They also dive deep into asymmetric warfare, drone technology, and potential vulnerabilities across U.S. logistics infrastructure, fuel refining capacity, and transport hubs.

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On this Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent who is broadcasting live from WHAT THE TRUCK?!? West in Fort Worth, Texas) dive into crucial financial protection strategies for freight brokers and the complex, rapidly shifting landscape of trade tariffs.

Ryan Frame and Ryan O'Leary from Ashford Advisors break down why disability insurance is one of the most critical—yet most ignored—pieces of financial protection in commission-driven industries. Learn how unexpected illnesses, taxable benefit traps, and base salary caps can impact your income and how to protect your line of work.

Charlie Clevenger, Principal at UHY, breaks down Section 122, Section 301, and Section 232 tariffs. Discover how national defense rules, forced labor regulations, and trade policy shifts affect manufacturers, freight brokers, and consumer supply chains.

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Continued geopolitical instability is making it hard to manage expectations for both shipping and transportation markets for the rest of the year. 

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining a violent cargo-theft case that underscores the escalating danger of rail corridor crime in Southern California. After gunfire erupted from a moving BNSF freight train during a confrontation with suspected burglars, authorities arrested five men on charges ranging from attempted murder to cargo theft and conspiracy. The arrests came after task force members discovered equipment used to burglarize rail cars, highlighting how armed theft crews endanger railway employees while disrupting freight moving through critical corridors.

Next, we explore how consolidation is reshaping the finished vehicle sector as Overland Park–based Acertus officially acquires Auburn, Massachusetts–based Fisher Shipping, expanding its carrier network and relationships with original equipment manufacturers and dealers. Fisher Shipping will continue to operate under its existing banner while gaining access to Acertus' expansive platform with enhanced fraud prevention and real-time shipment visibility. The deal follows another massive acquisition this week in which Proficient Auto Logistics agreed to acquire Hansen & Adkins for one hundred thirty million dollars, creating a combined entity expected to haul over four million vehicles annually.

Finally, we break down how ocean carrier Maersk is betting that vertical integration from port to doorstep is the key to winning the last-mile battle in e-commerce logistics. According to Maersk executives, last-mile delivery is no longer just a cost center—it's a data intelligence engine that reveals upstream issues like inventory allocation, product development, and order response times. Rather than building its own delivery fleet, Maersk manages a pool of carriers on customers' behalf through a multi-carrier model with single API integration, creating one consistent customer experience that connects every link from vessels crossing the ocean to final doorstep delivery.

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