Freight Fraud Protection
Zero Cargo Theft Since 1997
No public load boards. Pre-vetted carriers. Documented chain of custody.
AfA Board-led federal cargo theft task force initiative.
David King — Director, Client Partnerships
David King is Director of Client Partnerships at AB&M Logistics, where he oversees client relationships, carrier vetting, and operational protocols across the expedite network. Elected to the Airforwarders Association Board of Directors for the 2025-2028 term, David represents carrier and broker concerns at the industry-governance level. He was quoted in the AfA's October 2025 press release calling on Congress to establish a Federal Cargo Theft and Fraud Task Force — a policy push that reflects more than twenty years spent solving cargo security problems at the operational layer.
The Growing Freight Fraud Crisis
$500 million in freight is stolen annually in the United States — and the FBI says that number is likely far higher due to underreporting. The primary method is not highway robbery. It is identity theft and double-brokering. A fraudulent carrier impersonates a legitimate trucking company, responds to a public load board posting, picks up your freight legally, and disappears.
This is preventable. AB&M has prevented it since 1997 — nearly three decades — with one policy: we do not post to public load boards, and every carrier we use is known to us personally.
Common Fraud Tactics
Identity Theft & Fake Carriers
Fraudsters steal legitimate carrier identities, creating fake profiles with valid DOT numbers and insurance certificates. They appear completely legitimate until the load disappears.
Double Brokering Schemes
Dishonest brokers accept loads then re-broker them to unknown carriers — often multiple times — losing chain of custody and accountability. Each handoff increases fraud risk exponentially.
Load Board Scams
Criminals monitor public load boards for high-value shipments, then pose as legitimate carriers to book the load. Over 90% of freight fraud originates from public load board postings.
Strategic Cargo Theft
Organized groups use GPS jammers, fake delivery confirmations, and coordinated teams to steal entire trailers. They target specific commodities and have pre-arranged buyers waiting.
Real-World Impact
A single pharmaceutical shipment stolen can result in $2–5 million in losses. Electronics theft has become so prevalent that some insurers have increased premiums by 40% or stopped covering certain routes entirely.
Beyond financial losses, freight fraud creates supply chain disruptions that ripple through entire industries. Manufacturing lines shut down. Hospitals delay procedures. Retailers face empty shelves. The reputational damage can be even worse than the financial loss.
How AB&M Protects Your Freight
Our multi-layered security approach eliminates fraud risk at every stage of the shipping process.
Zero Public Load Boards
AB&M never posts loads to DAT, Truckstop.com, or any public marketplace. This eliminates the single highest-risk fraud vector in the industry. Our loads only go to pre-approved partners.
Pre-Vetted Carrier Network
Every carrier undergoes DOT authority verification, insurance validation with the provider directly, safety rating review, and carrier history checks. We know our carriers personally.
Driver Identity Verification
At pickup, we verify driver identity, CDL, carrier authorization, and vehicle documentation. Our dispatchers confirm the driver matches carrier records. No exceptions.
Real-Time GPS Monitoring
GPS tracking on every shipment with automated alerts for route deviations, unexpected stops, or tampered devices. Our 24/7 dispatch team monitors all active shipments.
Direct Voice Communication
We maintain direct phone contact with drivers throughout transit — never email-only communication. Routing changes require voice verification and multi-party approval.
Chain of Custody Documentation
Complete documentation trail from pickup to delivery including photo verification, signature confirmation, and tamper-evident seals for sensitive shipments.
For high-value or sensitive shipments, see our Secure Freight Transport services. For personal escort with unbroken chain-of-custody, explore Hand Carry Delivery.
Protecting Yourself Beyond Your Broker
Choosing a secure freight broker like AB&M is your first line of defense. But shippers should also implement their own fraud prevention practices: verify broker credentials including MC number and insurance before engaging. Request carrier information upfront. Never share shipment details on public forums. Require photo confirmation at pickup. Implement GPS tracking with geo-fence alerts. Use high-security seals on trailers. Establish verification procedures for any routing changes.
Red Flags to Watch For
What to Do If Fraud Occurs
If you suspect your shipment has been compromised, immediate action is critical. The first 24 hours are crucial for recovery.
Contact Law Enforcement Immediately
File a report with local police, state police, and the FBI's Cargo Theft Program. Provide all documentation including bills of lading, carrier information, and tracking data.
Notify Your Broker and Insurance Company
Alert your freight broker and file an immediate claim with your cargo insurance provider. Time-sensitive notification requirements apply.
Report to Industry Databases
Submit reports to CargoNet, NMFTA, and other industry theft prevention networks to alert other shippers.
Preserve All Evidence
Save all emails, text messages, phone records, documentation, and communications. Do not delete anything — it may be critical for investigation and prosecution.
Monitor for Resale Activity
Watch online marketplaces, auction sites, and industry channels where stolen goods commonly appear. Law enforcement can track and recover items if identified quickly.
AB&M Clients:
If you ever suspect an issue with your shipment, call our 24/7 emergency line immediately: (803) 244-9897
Cargo Security Standards We Apply
Cargo security is not a feature we add to a shipment when a customer asks for it — it is the operational baseline we run for every load. Every carrier in our network is vetted against current FMCSA authority, current insurance certificates, recent on-time performance, and identity-verification protocols designed to catch the impersonation attacks that have become the dominant freight fraud vector in 2026.
For high-value cargo specifically — servers, GPUs, medical devices, lab instruments, ESD-sensitive electronics — we apply additional layers: GPS-tracked tractors, sealed trailers, photo documentation at every transfer, and chain-of-custody documentation that follows the load from pickup through delivery. Secure freight transport is the same operational standard we run on our hyperscale data center program, applied to every customer’s freight by default.
What Freight Fraud Looks Like in 2026
Freight fraud has shifted decisively from physical theft to digital impersonation. The dominant attack patterns we see now:
- Identity-based carrier impersonation — a fraudulent carrier poses as a legitimate one, books the load, picks it up, and disappears. Defeated by carrier identity verification at booking AND at pickup.
- Double-broker fraud — a fraudulent broker re-brokers your load to a carrier without authorization, taking a cut and creating chain-of-custody gaps. Defeated by direct broker-to-carrier dispatch and explicit no-rebroker clauses.
- Pickup substitution — an unauthorized truck arrives at the dock claiming to be the booked carrier. Defeated by driver-photo verification and confirmed-vehicle plate matching at the dock.
- Dispatch system phishing — attackers compromise broker or shipper email systems to redirect freight or modify pickup instructions mid-shipment. Defeated by out-of-band confirmation on any mid-shipment instruction change.
- Cross-border paperwork manipulation — fraudulent customs documentation that diverts freight to unauthorized destinations or creates capture opportunities at border holds. Defeated by direct broker-to-customs verification on every cross-border move.
AB&M’s carrier vetting protocol catches these attacks at booking, at dispatch, at pickup, and in transit. The protocol is the same on every shipment regardless of value — we do not run a different process for high-value freight than for routine freight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Ship with Zero Fraud Risk?
Real dispatcher. Zero public load boards. Pre-vetted carriers. 24/7/365.
📞 Call (803) 244-9897