Today, I am issuing Cargo Theft: Evaluation of the Challenge of Combatting Cargo Theft with Recommendations on How to Reduce the Impact of Cargo Theft, my second to last report as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).
While the issue of cargo theft does not fall neatly under the direct jurisdiction of the FMC, it is a persistent issue that has increasingly impacted the entire transportation industry and the consumers, businesses, and citizens the supply chain serves. While it is impossible to quantify with certainty the frequency or financial impact of cargo theft, most evidence points to astronomical increases in recent years. Cargo theft is a serious crime which not only threatens the security of supply chains but threatens the economy as well. More must be done to address this class of crime. My hope is that this report will be an impetus to seriously address this issue in 2025.
As my report points out, there is not one solution to combating cargo theft. It is commonly part of a larger criminal conspiracy that requires action by both the private and public sectors to combat. Better reporting on cargo theft, better information sharing, and better coordination with law enforcement are all needed. This issue is an increasingly severe challenge to the Nation’s supply chain, and I hope that the private sector and state and federal law enforcement can work cooperatively to overcome the present challenges.
Carl W. Bentzel is a Commissioner with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The thoughts and comments expressed here are his own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Commission.