From Reactive Alerts to Pre-Dispatch Control in Cargo Theft Prevention
- Freddie Bolton
- Mar 20
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 8
Global supply chains are under mounting pressure from rising cargo values, multi-leg handoffs, and increasingly sophisticated criminal networks. Against this backdrop, The Supply Chainer convened an expert discussion to examine how cargo theft prevention is shifting upstream - from reactive detection to pre-dispatch risk management.
The discussion brought together Brian Jacobsen, Senior Manager of Capacity and Network Optimization at ITS Logistics; Sam Agyemang, VP Business Development at ITF Group; and Brice Cruchon, CEO of Dracula Technologies. Each was invited to share how operators can rethink cargo security in an environment where threats are increasingly digital, organized, and embedded deep within operational workflows.
From Physical Theft to Systemic Vulnerability
The opening question focused on how the nature of cargo theft has evolved in recent years.
Sam Agyemang pointed to a structural shift away from isolated incidents toward systemic exposure:
“Cargo theft is no longer a back-lot problem. It’s a systems problem. The industry talks about stolen trailers, but the real vulnerability is a weak process. High-value freight is being targeted through identity spoofing, digital manipulation, and operational complacency. Criminal networks study routing habits, exploit loose vetting standards, and capitalize on companies that confuse activity with control. The uncomfortable truth is this: theft scales where discipline doesn’t.”
Brian Jacobsen reinforced this shift, describing how attacks now often occur before physical movement begins: “Over the past decade, we've seen cargo theft evolve from opportunistic, armed robberies into strategic, data-driven, organized crime operations. The most common risk we’re seeing today is identity-based fraud - bad actors infiltrating carrier networks by impersonating trusted partners through compromised emails, using stolen credentials, or acquiring seasoned MC numbers through off-record sales.”
Where Do Traditional Controls Fall Short?
The conversation then turned to operational gaps that continue to expose supply chains to risk. Jacobsen highlighted how seemingly minor verification failures can open the door to major breaches:
“These actors target specific commodities (precious metals, energy drinks, apparel) and exploit gaps in verification: unconfirmed bookings, unchecked cab numbers, or missing CDL scans. Once inside the network they deploy double brokering or transloading tactics to divert freight to unauthorized locations.”
Agyemang emphasized that the root cause is often not lack of tools, but lack of disciplined execution: “Technology is only part of the strategy. GPS pings and dashboards don’t stop theft, they report it. Prevention comes from layered discipline… You have to design it into your daily operations.”
He outlined core operational controls that must be embedded upstream: strict carrier verification, controlled routing protocols, secured drop environments, defined check-in windows, and clear accountability across sales and operations teams.
Can AI Prevent Theft - or Just Report It?
A central question in the roundtable addressed the growing role of AI and advanced analytics.
Jacobsen framed the opportunity as a shift toward pre-dispatch intelligence:
“That’s why the real shift is towards proactive tools, especially those that utilize AI and advanced analytics to identify risk before a shipment is picked up. This data can be used to understand and design a plan for keeping freight safe en route, such as working with carriers to avoid certain rest areas or knowing when to implement stricter SOPs for targeted commodities. Computer vision and identity verification tools also help us confirm exactly who we're working with by validating truck colors, preexisting footprint, and last known activity dates.”
At the same time, he cautioned against over-reliance on automation:
“The best way to think about it is like playing poker - you can know the rules and use every technological tool available, but you still have to have someone who can read the table.”
The Visibility Gap: When Tracking Fails Mid-Transit
The discussion also surfaced a practical limitation often overlooked in security strategies: the fragility of tracking infrastructure.
Brice Cruchon highlighted how battery-dependent devices create exploitable blind spots:
“The real challenge with cargo tracking today is not just about having the right technology in place, it is making sure it works all the time… most tracking devices still depend on batteries. In practice, that means limited lifetime, maintenance constraints, and sometimes gaps in visibility… When you are transporting high-value goods, even a short interruption can create a real risk.”
He pointed to emerging alternatives such as organic photovoltaic technology, which harvests ambient light to power sensors continuously:
“You can install and forget your product.”
For industries like pharmaceuticals and electronics, where both compliance and security depend on uninterrupted data, eliminating these gaps becomes critical.
From Reaction to Prevention
Across the discussion, a consistent theme emerged: effective cargo security no longer begins on the road - it begins at booking, onboarding, and operational design.
The combined perspective from Jacobsen, Agyemang, and Cruchon points to a new model of risk management - one that integrates process discipline, identity verification, pre-dispatch analytics, and continuous, failure-resistant visibility.
In a world where every disrupted shipment carries operational and financial consequences, the advantage is shifting toward organizations that treat theft prevention not as a downstream security layer, but as an embedded, upstream capability.
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