Hoosier State Today

Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), who serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety, led a hearing titled "Grand Theft Cargo: Examining a Costly Threat to Consumers to the U.S. Supply Chain." The session was centered on the increasing incidents of cargo theft within the supply chain, including brokering scams, fraudulent trucking companies, and train robberies orchestrated by organized gangs.

The discussion also covered potential solutions such as enhanced coordination and enforcement by federal agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Department of Homeland Security to combat these criminal activities.

In his opening statement, Young highlighted an incident involving PFL, a third-party logistics company based in Evansville, Indiana. The company suffered a loss when a $60,000 shipment was stolen by a previously trusted carrier. "Obviously, that is a devastating loss to a small company, one that is ultimately absorbed by its employees and customers. PFL is one of many companies who have fallen victim to a rising wave of cargo theft across the country and are asking for Congress to partner with their industry to address this threat," stated Young.

Since the onset of the COVID pandemic, there has been an increase in cargo theft nationwide. This issue has reached what some consider to be its highest point in ten years. Once dominated by crude criminals, this area now includes sophisticated groups from both domestic and international origins such as China, Eastern Europe, and Mexico.

Young noted that cargo theft is challenging to detect and prevent due to its varied forms. According to Homeland Security Investigations estimates, annual losses from cargo theft range between "$15-35 billion annually."

The full video of Young’s opening remarks can be viewed online.