Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Nov. 6, 2026:
Cargo theft losses up 12% year-over-year as total thefts down 33%
Cargo thieves in the third quarter of 2026 continued to favor targeting fewer high-value thefts rather than a higher number of lower-value commodities, according to a quarterly cargo theft analysis from Verisk CargoNet.
The firm recorded 547 supply chain crime incidents across the United States and Canada from July through September, a 33% decline from the same period in 2025 and a 19% decline from the second quarter.
Even with that decline, estimated losses for the quarter totaled $230.1 million, up 12% from $205.1 million in the third quarter of 2025. Verisk CargoNet
Despite the decrease in reported activity, fictitious pickups, which are generally described as incidents in which deception is used to obtain a shipment, remained close to last year’s level, accounting for 138 incidents in Q3, compared with 147 in 2025, raising their share of reported activity from 18% to approximately 25%.
[Related: Why simply tracking a load isn't enough to stop cargo theft]
The year-to-date figures also show continued financial exposure -- estimated losses reached $718.9 million through September, up 39%, while reported incidents fell 25% from 2,755 to 2,072. The average value of stolen commodities across incidents with a documented value increased by approximately 72% from $261,115 to $448,456 over the same period.
"We saw mixed results in the third quarter with a decline in reported incidents and fictitious pickups remaining close to last year’s level, but the estimated financial impact grew significantly,” said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk CargoNet. "Understanding cargo theft requires looking beyond incident counts and focusing on broader trends, like what is being stolen and where theft is concentrated."
Food and beverage commodities were the most targeted during the quarter, though less so than a year ago. Metals, notably copper, were the second-most-targeted.
Geographically, California accounted for approximately one-third of all reported incidents, with 182 events, down from 261, while New Jersey declined from 66 to 46, Illinois from 52 to 40, and Texas from 105 to 43. Together, those four states accounted for 57% of the quarterly total.
[Related: Supply chain collaboration, human judgment and digital security combat cargo theft]
Earlier this year, Verisk CargoNet documented increasingly complex fraud schemes involving compromised business email accounts, internet-based phone systems and transportation industry applications, which can allow criminals to impersonate legitimate companies, obtain shipment information or redirect freight already moving through the supply chain.
The persistence of fictitious pickups underscores the continued threat these schemes pose, even as overall reported incidents decline.
“We’re seeing criminals combine digital deception with traditional theft tactics to identify, intercept and redirect high-value shipments,” Lewis added. “Data center materials are among the valuable commodities attracting attention. As the value of the cargo being targeted increases, strong identity verification, shipment visibility and communication across the supply chain become even more important.”
Looking ahead to Q4, seasonal patterns warrant attention, the firm said. Historically, theft activity is higher during the fourth quarter and into the new year. Activity could escalate as criminals seek to exploit extended facility closures and reduced staffing during the upcoming holiday season.
[Related: Cybersecurity threats trucking fleets need to know about]
Averitt opening expanded Oklahoma City location
Averitt (CCJ Top 250, No. 25) will open a new Oklahoma City service center on Nov. 13, expanding transportation and warehousing capabilities in the region. The facility will give area businesses more options for coordinating freight transportation and storage through one provider, Averitt noted.
The new construction replaces Averitt's previous Oklahoma City location, providing additional capacity and service capabilities in a market the company already serves.
The new service center features 47 dock doors and 21,120 square feet of dock space, along with 35,000 square feet of dedicated warehousing space. It will offer a range of services, including less-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload transportation, local customization, and short- and long-term storage solutions.
Through its warehousing capabilities, Averitt can support customers with changing inventory needs while providing access to its broader network of transportation and supply chain services.
“Our goal is to give customers the flexibility to manage more of their supply chain through one partner,” said Barry Blakely, president and chief operating officer at Averitt. “This facility brings together transportation and warehousing capabilities that can adapt to our customers' needs and support their businesses as they grow.”
The new Oklahoma City facility is located at 8500 SW 15th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73128.
Mississippi police bust truck driver with 2K pounds of marijuana, 200 pounds of cocaine
A truck driver hauling across I-20 in Mississippi was busted last week carrying approximately 204 pounds of cocaine and 1,959 pounds of marijuana, according to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), Mississippi Department of Public Safety Interdiction Team, Rankin County Sheriff’s Department and Madison Police Department conducted a coordinated operation that resulted in the seizure.
During the operation, officers conducted a traffic stop on a tractor-trailer traveling along I-20, resulting in the discovery of the drugs. The driver, Yohannes Haile, 36, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and co-driver Befikadu Belayneh, 42, of Clarkston, Georgia, were both arrested and charged with Aggravated Trafficking of Cocaine and Trafficking of Marijuana.
It’s unclear why the traffic stop was first initiated.
“This significant seizure demonstrates the impact of strong partnerships between local and state law enforcement agencies,” said Mississippi DPS Commissioner Bo Luckey. “By working together, we are able to disrupt the transportation of dangerous drugs and prevent these substances from reaching our streets and communities.”
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Director Jimmy Herzog praised the coordination between the agencies.
“Drug trafficking does not stop at county or jurisdictional lines, and neither should our efforts to combat it,” he said. “Operations like this highlight the value of intelligence sharing, communication and collaboration among our law enforcement partners. We remain committed to working alongside local agencies to identify and intercept illegal narcotics before they can be distributed throughout Mississippi.”
Border officers find 1K pounds of meth in load of leeks
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on Oct. 30 seized more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine at the Pharr, Texas, Port of Entry, within a shipment manifested as leeks.
A tractor-trailer bound for McAllen, Texas, was referred to secondary inspection at the Pharr Port of Entry. After a K-9 alert, officers discovered cylindrical packages hidden among the leeks.
A total of 909 packages were discovered and tested positive for methamphetamine. The total weight of the narcotics was 1,082.47 pounds with a street value of $984,063.
“International drug trafficking presents a direct threat to U.S. national security, public safety and economic stability,” said Jennifer De La O, director, Laredo Field Operations. “Operation Southern Surge leverages tactical intelligence and coordinated enforcement actions to dismantle the trafficking infrastructure, intercept illicit supply chains, and bolster situational awareness across the southwest border.”
