The holiday weekend could prove risky for some logistics businesses, with a new report out that points to increased cargo theft during the week surrounding the Fourth of July festivities.
The logistics industry has experience plenty of strife over the last few years. From the serious trucker shortage to the economic uncertainty of the US in 2025, businesses of all sizes are struggling to keep up with the shifting trends.
Now, they have to worry about their cargo, as theft reportedly spikes substantially around the Independence Day holiday.
Report: Cargo Theft Increases During July 4th Holiday
According to an urgent advisory from Verisk CargoNet — a cargo theft prevention and recovery agency — the week of Fourth of July has seen a huge spike in cargo theft over the last five years.
As a result, the agency is urging logistics businesses to be wary and proactive in preventing these thefts, as the trend is expected to continue in 2025.
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“The July 4th holiday period consistently presents one of the highest-risk windows for cargo theft due to extended facility closures and reduced security presence. With theft rates nearly tripling over the past decade, logistics companies must prioritize enhanced security measures during holiday periods to protect their assets and maintain supply chain integrity.” – Keith Lewis, Vice President of Operations at Verisk CargoNet
CargoNet analyzed 184 cargo thefts that occurred between July 1st and July 7th in the last five years, pointing towards a significant increase during this time of the year.
What Should Logistics Business Know About 4th of July Theft?
In addition to the substantial increase analyzed by CargoNet over the last five years, there is some telling data that could help your business understand the threat and strategize ways to reduce the risk for your business.
- Where: California, Texas, and Illinois are the states that were targeted the most in 4th of July cargo thefts.
- When: July 1st and July 3rd were the days that saw the most cargo thefts across their data.
- What: Thieves primarily focused on stealing non-alcoholic beverages, computer electronics, major appliances, and vehicle accessories like tires and automotive parts.
- How: Cargo theft is being perpetrated the old fashioned way, with direct freight and vehicle theft far more common than sophisticated fraud schemes.
How to Protect Your Cargo From Theft
The last thing you want this 4th of July is to have to deal with the threat of cargo theft. Still, there are some proactive measures you can take before the holiday hits to ensure that your business is safe from these kinds of attacks.
Most notably, the report from CargoNet says that businesses should “implement additional safeguards including increased facility monitoring, enhanced driver communication protocols, and coordinated security measures with law enforcement partners.”
On top of that, there is a lot of cybersecurity logistics technology that you can employ to shore up your business’ preventative measures, so that you’ll be able to enjoy the holiday season without having to worry about your cargo.
