Our CEO, Elliott Verreault, had the privilege of attending Inland Distribution 2024 in Chicago, a leading event that brings together shippers, transportation, and logistics providers to address the challenges in North American surface transportation.
Across three days of sessions, industry leaders discussed key topics such as cargo theft, technology dynamics, and mode-specific strategies for improving supply chain security.
The insights from this event shed light on the growing concerns surrounding cargo crime in road, rail, and intermodal transportation, as well as the tech-driven solutions needed to stay ahead of emerging threats.
Below, we highlight some of the most impactful takeaways from the sessions on cargo crime and security, offering a glimpse into how industries are navigating these challenges with both human and technological resources.
Session - Cargo Crime I: Fighting Fraudulent Pickups
- Karl Fillhouer (Circle Logistics, Inc): “A SWAT team raided the warehouse in Los Angeles, arrested 16-17 people, most of whom were operating forklifts and had no idea they were moving stolen goods... By the time the top guy was caught, the stolen goods were gone, a quarter-million-dollar loss."
- Erica Watts (Echo Global Logistics): “Small details are often overlooked on busy docks—whether mismatching license plates or truck details, these can make all the difference in preventing theft.”
Key Takeaway: The rise in fraudulent pickups requires a proactive, team-based approach to monitor all details closely.
Session 2 – Cargo Crime II: Rail
- Rachael Acker (Wolverine Worldwide): “Securing cargo inside the US is such a big issue, and it doesn’t get the attention it needs. Insider threat is real. Safeguarding data is key, but avoiding complacency with human resources is paramount, even if they’ve been with you for a while”
- Will Johnson (BNSF Railway): “Cargo theft in rails is a $50 billion problem affecting the US economy. Our crime scenes are not static; they move. To improve our odds of success, we blend security human capital with force multipliers like drones and AI to look for anomalies—like identifying when an individual doesn’t belong there—and figuring out how to accelerate our response.”
Key Takeaways: Collaboration between human and technological resources, such as drones and AI, is essential to counter the rise of rail cargo theft.
Session 3 – Cargo Crime III: Fighting Cargo Crime with Tech
- Michael Caney (Highway): “You have essentially open networks with no identity management. The incentive is to move as much load as possible, and trust has been secondary. […] You have bad actors hiring freight services legitimately today just to learn about your weaknesses”.
- Ronald Greene (Overhaul): “The trucking industry has done a great job adopting safety standards and marrying that safety culture with performance culture; it now needs to do the same for security. […] Overall, there’s a need for greater adaptability in the industry. Criminals adapt, so should we.”
- Lisa Haubenstock (Truckstop.com): “Bad actors are smarter and adapt and evolve faster than ever before. The issue is broader than just cybersecurity—it’s also physical.”
Key Takeaway: A multi-layered security strategy is critical as criminals continue to innovate their tactics. The industry must invest in both cyber and physical security to stay ahead.
Session 4 – Think Tank: Cargo Crime & Security
- Craig Ingram (Asset Based Intermodal, Inc.): “Open seal cases used to be 5-10 per month; now we’re seeing 5-10 per day.”
- Sean Douris (CSX): “Crimes of opportunity are still prevalent—“whatever is in there, I’ll take that.” Technology is the solution to help us move resources to the right places.”
- Sgt. Jason Moore (Memphis Police Department): “In Memphis, it’s coordinated chaos, not organized like out west with cartels. They go shopping, and once they hit gold, they message their friends on Facebook Messenger.”
- Jose Enrique Sevilla-Macip (S&P Global Market Intelligence): “Most cargo theft in Mexico is violent, and most of it is underreported. Extortion is also on the rise. While road cargo theft appears stable year over year, rail cargo theft is on the increase, >100% YoY growth”
Key Takeaway: Cargo theft is a growing issue across North America. Addressing this issue will require localized solutions, coordinated efforts, better intelligence sharing, and stronger legislative reform.
Conclusion
The Inland Distribution 2024 event provided invaluable insights into the increasing complexity of securing North America’s transportation networks. From fraudulent pickups to rail cargo theft and the need for multi-layered security strategies, it’s clear that addressing these challenges requires a proactive approach. Integrating cutting-edge technology like drones, AI, and real-time data with human expertise will be essential as criminals evolve their tactics.
At AKTEK, we are excited to share these learnings with our customers and partners as we continue strengthening our approaches to supply chain security. The fight against cargo theft and fraud is ongoing, but with greater collaboration, intelligence sharing, and technology adoption, we can make significant strides toward more secure operations.
Stay tuned for more insights as we apply these strategies to help protect your assets and ensure a safer supply chain.
