Cargo theft in the motor carrier industry: an exploratory study

Supply chain managers increasingly point to supply chain security as one of their most pressing concerns. One especially challenging security related issue for those responsible for the shipment and transportation of cargo is the threat of cargo theft. Cargo theft is estimated to cost companies $10B annually in the U.S and $30B worldwide, with more than 90 % of those incidents targeting the transportation component of the supply chain. Despite the increased cost and threat of cargo theft, little scholarly research is available which investigates the issue. This research endeavors to extend our understanding of theft of in-transit cargo. More specifically, this effort endeavors to identify how transportation providers are combating cargo theft and thus answers the call for investigations into corporate responses to security issues like cargo theft. This research utilizes in-depth qualitative interviews with industry professionals to gain insights into the practices managers are using to protect against the current threat of cargo theft and to highlight some of the future challenges and trends related to cargo theft.