$725m cargo theft surge: Why freight tracking now needs two signals
The freight industry’s decade-long reliance on single-source tracking is failing to stem a 60% surge in cargo theft, with losses hitting $725 million in 2025. As strategic theft tactics, from identity fraud to spoofed emails, outpace traditional telematics, Descartes MacroPoint has rolled out ELD+, a dual-source tracking system designed to verify signals in real time.
For years, visibility in freight has meant little more than knowing a truck’s location via electronic logging devices (ELDs) and telematics feeds. While this eliminated the need for manual check-ins, it left a critical gap: a single tracking source cannot confirm whether the signal originates from the correct driver, truck, or load. This vulnerability has been exploited by criminals using compromised logins and equipment swaps to reroute or steal entire shipments.
The evolution of freight visibility: From ELDs to AI-driven authentication
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) became mandatory in the United States in 2017 under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, marking a turning point in freight tracking. These devices replaced paper logs, automating the recording of driving hours and vehicle location.
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However, while ELDs improved compliance and reduced administrative burdens, they were never designed to address the growing threat of strategic cargo theft. The industry’s reliance on ELDs alone created a false sense of security, as criminals quickly adapted by exploiting gaps in single-source tracking.
Descartes MacroPoint, a subsidiary of Descartes Systems Group, has been at the forefront of freight visibility solutions for over a decade. The company’s network, which includes more than Eliminar (dato no verificado)lion drivers and Eliminar (dato no verificado)lion connected trucking assets, provides real-time tracking data to brokers, shippers, and third-party logistics providers (3PLs).
Descartes Systems Group itself is a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, serving over Eliminar (dato no verificado) customers worldwide. Its MacroPoint platform is widely recognised for integrating telematics, mobile apps, and AI-driven analytics to enhance visibility and security across the freight ecosystem.
How dual-source tracking closes the security gap
Descartes MacroPoint’s ELD+ system addresses this flaw by running both ELD and mobile app tracking simultaneously within the same load-tracking session. The mobile component, powered by the Descartes MacroPoint for Truckers app, allows drivers to confirm arrival and departure milestones, capture photos, and submit proof of delivery, adding a layer of human verification to automated data.
Dan Cicerchi, General Manager of Transportation Management at Descartes, emphasised the role of AI in this evolution:
“AI innovations in our real-time visibility solution are designed to improve accuracy and responsiveness.”
Dan Cicerchi·General Manager of Transportation Management at Descartes
The system does not replace traditional verification methods but acts as a risk signal, flagging discrepancies between ELD and mobile app data. This multifactor authentication logic is particularly effective against “strategic theft,” a category that now accounts for the fastest-growing segment of freight crime.
According to Verisk CargoNet’s 2025 analysis, such tactics include double brokering, spoofed emails, and compromised logins used to divert shipments. Verisk CargoNet, a subsidiary of Verisk Analytics, specialises in cargo theft prevention and recovery, providing data and intelligence to insurers, law enforcement, and logistics companies.
For brokers and shippers, the adoption of dual-source tracking systems like ELD+ represents a shift from reactive to proactive security measures. Traditionally, freight visibility has focused on tracking location rather than verifying identity or load integrity.
This approach leaves shipments vulnerable to sophisticated theft tactics, such as identity fraud, where criminals impersonate legitimate carriers to gain access to loads. By combining ELD data with mobile app verification, ELD+ introduces a layer of authentication that makes it significantly harder for criminals to manipulate tracking signals.
The Descartes MacroPoint for Truckers app, which forms the mobile component of ELD+, is already familiar to a broad swath of the carrier community. The app allows drivers to confirm key milestones, such as pick-up and delivery, while also enabling them to upload photos and documents as proof of delivery. This not only enhances security but also streamlines communication between drivers, brokers, and shippers, reducing the need for manual follow-ups and phone calls.
With Descartes MacroPoint’s network already encompassing over Eliminar (dato no verificado)lion drivers, Eliminar (dato no verificado) global telematics integrations, and Eliminar (dato no verificado)lion connected trucking assets, the infrastructure for dual-source tracking is in place. The Descartes MacroPoint for Truckers app is widely adopted, reducing the learning curve for carriers. Yet, the shift is not just about technology, it’s about adapting to a threat landscape where criminals are increasingly sophisticated.
Descartes’ OpsForce, a suite of AI agents, further enhances visibility by automating follow-ups for missing milestones and documents. Customers using OpsForce have reported up to a 30% increase in no-touch tracking automation, reducing manual intervention while improving accuracy.
OpsForce leverages AI to manage driver requests, confirmations, and escalations, ensuring that discrepancies are addressed in real time. However, experts caution that dual-source tracking is not a silver bullet. Effective risk reduction still requires a holistic approach, including carrier vetting, identity validation, in-transit monitoring, and clear escalation protocols for exceptions.
The stakes are high. In 2025 alone, cargo theft losses surged by 60%, with strategic theft tactics becoming the norm rather than the exception. For brokers, 3PLs, and shippers, the message is clear: real-time location data is no longer enough. The next frontier in freight visibility is verifying that the signal, and the cargo, are exactly where they should be.
As the freight industry continues to evolve, the integration of AI and automation into visibility solutions is set to play an increasingly critical role. Descartes MacroPoint’s OpsForce suite is just one example of how AI can enhance security by automating routine tasks, such as milestone confirmations and document submissions. This not only reduces the burden on drivers and dispatchers but also minimises the risk of human error, which can be exploited by criminals.
Looking ahead, the industry is likely to see further advancements in AI-driven authentication, such as biometric verification and blockchain-based tracking. These technologies could provide even greater security by ensuring that only authorised personnel can access or modify shipment data. However, their adoption will depend on industry-wide collaboration, as well as the willingness of carriers, brokers, and shippers to invest in new technologies.
For now, dual-source tracking systems like ELD+ represent a critical step forward in the fight against cargo theft. By combining ELD data with mobile app verification, these systems provide a robust defence against the growing threat of strategic theft. However, the industry must remain vigilant, as criminals are likely to continue evolving their tactics. The question is no longer whether the industry can afford to upgrade, but whether it can afford not to.
For logistics professionals looking to stay ahead of cargo theft trends, industry reports from organisations like Verisk CargoNet and Descartes MacroPoint offer valuable insights. Verisk CargoNet’s annual cargo theft reports, for example, provide detailed analysis of theft patterns, emerging tactics, and regional hotspots. These reports are essential reading for brokers, shippers, and carriers seeking to understand the evolving threat landscape.
In addition to leveraging industry reports, logistics professionals can take proactive steps to enhance the security of their shipments. This includes vetting carriers thoroughly, validating identities and equipment, and implementing real-time monitoring and exception alerting. For those using Descartes MacroPoint’s solutions, the company offers training and support to help customers maximise the benefits of dual-source tracking and AI-driven visibility tools.
As the freight industry grapples with these challenges, the adoption of advanced tracking systems and AI-driven solutions will be key to reducing losses and improving security. For now, the message is clear: the time to upgrade is now.
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