Austin News

U.S. Senator Todd Young, who chairs the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety, led a hearing today in Washington D.C. titled "Grand Theft Cargo: Examining a Costly Threat to Consumers to the U.S. Supply Chain." The session addressed the growing issue of cargo theft affecting the supply chain, including brokering scams, fraudulent trucking companies, and organized train robberies.

The hearing explored possible 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 crimes.

In his opening statement, Senator Young mentioned an incident involving PFL, a third-party logistics company based in Evansville, Indiana. The company suffered a $60,000 loss when its cargo 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," Young said. He noted that PFL is among many companies urging Congress to collaborate with their industry to tackle this threat.

Cargo theft has increased significantly since the COVID pandemic began, reaching levels not seen in over ten years according to some estimates. This crime has evolved from being committed by unsophisticated criminals to involving complex domestic and international groups from regions such as China, Eastern Europe, and Mexico.

Young highlighted the challenges in detecting and preventing cargo theft due to its varied nature. Homeland Security Investigations estimates annual losses from cargo theft range between $15 billion and $35 billion.

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