Cargo Theft Prevention Moves Upstream in Supply Chain Operations From Reactive Alerts to Pre-Dispatch Risk Scoring and Process Discipline

Global supply chains are under mounting pressure from rising cargo values, multi-leg handoffs, and increasingly sophisticated criminal networks. Electronics, pharmaceuticals, apparel, and high-value consumer goods now represent prime targets, with theft no longer limited to physical hijackings at rest stops but embedded in digital booking processes, carrier vetting gaps, and operational complacency. The operational cost extends far beyond replacement value — it includes delayed deliveries, insurance hikes, regulatory scrutiny, and eroded customer trust.

In written responses to The Supply Chainer, three supply chain and technology leaders outlined how operators can shift from detection-after-the-fact to prevention-before-dispatch. Responses came from 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.

Cargo Theft Prevention Moves Upstream in Supply Chain Operations From Reactive Alerts to Pre-Dispatch Risk: 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

Process Discipline Remains the Foundation

Sam Agyemang argues that technology alone cannot solve what is fundamentally an execution and governance issue. “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.”

Agyemang stresses that prevention requires layered operational controls that cannot be outsourced to software: strict carrier verification, controlled routing protocols, secured drop environments, defined check-in windows, and clear accountability across sales and operations teams. “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.”

Sam Agyemang, VP Business Development at ITF Group

Identity-Based Fraud Now Precedes Physical Theft

Brian Jacobsen describes how the threat has evolved from opportunistic armed robberies into calculated, data-driven infiltration that often occurs before the truck even leaves the yard. “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.”

Brian Jacobsen, Senior Manager of Capacity and Network Optimization at ITS Logistics

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. Jacobsen notes that traditional safeguards are no longer sufficient because the breach happens upstream.

Proactive AI and Pre-Dispatch Risk Scoring Become Critical

Jacobsen sees the biggest opportunity in moving technology upstream. While GPS and IoT sensors remain essential for recovery, the real shift is toward proactive analytics that flag risk before pickup. “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.”

Even with advanced tools, Jacobsen emphasizes that human expertise remains irreplaceable: “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.”

Continuous Visibility Without Battery Constraints

Long-haul and multi-modal shipments expose another practical limitation: tracking devices that go dark when batteries die. Brice Cruchon explains why this creates exploitable blind spots in high-value supply chains.

“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.”

Brice Cruchon, CEO of Dracula Technologies

Dracula Technologies’ organic photovoltaic (OPV) approach harvests ambient light to power sensors indefinitely. “You can install and forget your product.” This removes maintenance cycles and ensures uninterrupted data flow across complex routes — critical for pharmaceuticals (where chain-of-custody and temperature compliance intersect with security) and electronics that cannot afford any visibility gap.

Operational Implications for Supply Chain Leaders

The combined perspective points to a clear evolution in cargo security strategy: effective risk management now starts at carrier onboarding and booking, continues through disciplined route control and verification, and is sustained by always-on visibility tools that do not fail mid-transit.

Supply chain professionals who treat theft prevention as an upstream operational discipline — rather than a downstream security add-on — are seeing measurable reductions in loss exposure, faster recovery when incidents do occur, and stronger compliance posture across regulated shipments. In an environment where every delayed or diverted load directly impacts service levels and margins, the winners are those who integrate process rigor, pre-dispatch analytics, and battery-free tracking into a single resilient framework.