Compromised communications linked to 40% of stolen loads in Highway fraud report

A legitimate trucking company can have established operating authority, verified credentials and years of transportation history. But those records cannot guarantee that the person requesting freight actually controls the business. Criminals exploit trusted carrier identities to obtain shipments without immediately raising suspicion. Highway’s latest fraud findings document how compromised communications and ownership changes create opportunities for cargo theft.

Highway’s third-quarter Freight Fraud Index reveals how criminals targeted established carrier accounts between July and September 2026. Ownership change reports increased 111.4% from the previous quarter but rose 12.4% year over year. Meanwhile, fraudulent and spoofed calls blocked by the company increased 90.3% year over year. These findings highlight growing identity-related concerns across the freight network.

Despite these warning signs, Highway received fewer stolen load reports than during the previous quarter. The company recorded 184 incidents, representing a 28.1% quarterly decline. However, that figure remained 8.2% higher than the same period last year. Highway cautions that its findings reflect activity within its network, not nationwide cargo theft totals.

In written comments to FreightWaves, Highway attributed part of the decline to stronger verification procedures within its network. The company highlighted increased adoption of authenticated rate confirmations and additional identity checks before releasing shipment information. Those measures aim to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing freight through compromised carrier accounts. However, Highway cautioned against crediting any single measure for the entire decline. Highway emphasized that brokers must verify the individual accessing shipment information, not just the carrier.

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