Cargo Theft Hits Crisis Levels
Cargo theft is no longer a fringe issue. It’s a full-blown crisis. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) estimates these crimes now cost the industry up to $35 billion a year. That’s not just freight. That’s job losses, price hikes, and disrupted deliveries.
Average theft values have climbed above $200,000 per incident. Strategic theft—planned heists involving cyberattacks and false pickups—has exploded by over 1,500%
since 2021. These criminals are organized, tech-savvy, and bold.
And they’re not slowing down. Organized retail crime has jumped from in-store grabs to full-scale supply chain infiltration. Freight companies now find themselves on the front lines of a national security threat.
CORCA Takes Aim at Crime Rings
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) is a bipartisan response. It doesn’t just focus on theft after it happens. It builds a proactive structure to stop it before it starts.
CORCA would establish a dedicated coordination center inside the Department of Homeland Security. This center would bring together local police, federal agents, and industry experts. Their goal: dismantle crime rings that cross state lines and sell stolen goods online.
The bill also equips government agencies with new tools. It supports real-time data sharing, streamlines investigations, and gives law enforcement the power to follow the money trail swifter. This united front could turn the tide on organized crime.
Other Industry Voices Back the Bill
Bipartisan Support Powers the Push
CORCA isn’t a partisan issue.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle recognize the damage organized retail crime causes. The bill’s lead sponsors—Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)—have made this a shared priority.
"Organized theft rings deploy innovative tactics to pilfer goods, and it’s causing financial harm to businesses, putting employees and consumers at risk and funding transnational criminal organizations throughout the world. It’s time for the law to catch up and prevent criminals from exploiting the internet and online marketplaces. Our bill improves the federal response to organized retail crime and establishes new tools to recover stolen goods and illicit proceeds, and deter future attacks on American retailers,” Senator
Grassley said.
Other cosponsors include Republicans and Democrats from across the country. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Amy Klobuchar, Ted Cruz, and Mark Kelly have all joined the effort. The backing spans rural states, urban districts, and everything in between. These senators are also members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. That matters. It means CORCA already has the attention of the lawmakers who can move it forward quickly. The momentum is building.
This isn’t just about stolen goods anymore. Organized retail crime has become more violent. The National Retail Federation (NRF) says 84% of retailers have seen more aggression from criminals since 2022. That aggression puts workers, shoppers, and law enforcement at risk. It’s not just shoplifting. It’s assaults, weapons, and threats. Flash mob robberies can turn chaotic in seconds.
These groups often use social media to organize and target victims. They may find a job change update on LinkedIn and target the individual, or they may post stolen freight on a social media marketplace. They sell stolen items on these marketplaces below market and launder money through digital platforms. CORCA in its most ideal offering aims to disrupt these networks at the source.
This isn’t Congress’s first attempt. Grassley and Cortez Masto have introduced similar legislation before—in 2022 and 2023. Each time, industry support grew stronger. In 2023, they led a national press event on Fight Retail Crime Day. They stood with the National Retail Federation and urged lawmakers to act. Still, the bill stalled. This time however, they’re back with more co-sponsors, louder support, and a freight sector that’s more vocal than ever. CORCA in 2025 has the best chance yet to become law.
Freight’s Call to Action
The message from the freight industry is clear: it’s time to act. CORCA gives law enforcement the tools they need. It creates a national strategy. It sends a message to criminals—your days are numbered.
Truckers have already paid the price. So have retailers, small businesses, and consumers. Costs are rising. Safety is dropping. The time for study is over. The time for solutions is now.

If CORCA passes, it could mark a turning point in America’s fight against organized supply chain crime. With freight and retail united, the road ahead looks safer.
Translogistics Proactive Approach
