California, Texas account for 58% of US cargo theft in 2025
California and Texas made up 58% of reported cargo theft in the U.S. in 2025, highlighting how heavily theft activity is concentrated in two of the nation’s busiest freight states.
With major ports, rail hubs, warehouses, and high-volume interstate corridors, both states move enormous amounts of consumer goods and industrial freight. That same freight density also means more opportunities for thieves to target trucks, trailers, and staged loads.
For drivers, the takeaway is straightforward: the places with the most freight can also be the places with the most theft pressure. When a large share of theft is happening in just a couple states, it can affect where loads get staged, how receivers and shippers schedule pickups, and how carriers plan routes and stops.
Cargo theft matters beyond the immediate loss of a load. It can lead to delays, tighter security requirements at facilities, more scrutiny around pickup procedures, and added pressure on delivery windows when freight is rerouted or re-tendered.
The concentration of theft in California and Texas also underscores a broader reality in trucking: cargo crime tends to follow freight volume and logistics infrastructure. As freight patterns shift, theft patterns often shift with them, making it important for drivers and fleets to treat high-volume freight lanes as higher-risk areas.