US DOT Seeks Input to Combat Cargo Theft

On September 19, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a major new initiative—”Protecting America’s Supply Chain from Cargo Theft“—and is actively seeking public comments.

The DOT acknowledges that cargo theft is an escalating concern for the U.S. transportation system, causing “significant economic losses and disruptions to the supply chain”. The challenge is particularly high at marine terminals, given the high volume and value of goods passing through.

The DOT is reaching out to all stakeholders for input, including:

Carriers
Shippers
Drivers
Law Enforcement Officers
Local Agencies

The agency seeks information on theft issues across all transportation modes: Air, Rail, Marine, and Trucking.

Below you will find the detailed list of questions, some applicable to all stakeholders and others designated for specific parties (see below)

General (All Stakeholders):

What are the most significant cargo theft risks facing the U.S. supply chain today (e.g., opportunistic thefts, organized theft rings, insider threats, cyber-enabled diversion)?
How do these risks vary across different types of goods movement: truck-borne freight, rail-borne freight, water-borne freight, air-borne freight, and freight located at multimodal exchange points, including airports, marine ports, and truck-rail intermodal facilities?
For each of the following modes of transportation, please indicate how much of a challenge cargo theft is for shippers and carriers.
What barriers prevent timely detection, reporting, and response to cargo theft incidents? How can DOT reduce these barriers?

Law Enforcement/Security:

How can Federal, State, and local law enforcement better coordinate to address both opportunistic thefts and multi-jurisdictional organized cargo theft cases?
What role should Federal intelligence functions play in identifying and mitigating theft risks across this spectrum?

DOT Operating Administrations/Federal Agencies:

How should DOT Operating Administrations (FMCSA, FHWA, FRA, MARAD, FAA, and PHMSA) contribute to addressing cargo theft while avoiding duplication of FBI/DHS roles?
What data collection improvements (e.g., reporting platforms, integrations with FMCSA inspections or CBP data) should DOT pursue to enhance cargo theft visibility?
Are there regulations that cause or contribute to vulnerabilities that lead to cargo theft?

Industry Stakeholders:

What industry best practices or technologies (e.g., GPS tracking, electronic seals, AI-driven monitoring, secure parking, etc.) have proven most effective in reducing both opportunistic thefts and organized thefts?
How should DOT measure success in reducing cargo theft, and what performance metrics would be most valuable to track?
To what agency or jurisdiction does industry currently report cargo theft? What barriers prevent industry from reporting theft incidents to Federal agencies? How can DOT reduce these barriers?
Which commodities face the highest risks and do those risks vary contingent on whether the commodity is domestic, imported, or exported?

Forward-Looking:

What potential practices, technologies, or focal points for investigation could DOT initiate over the next year to test innovative approaches to cargo theft prevention, reporting, and enforcement partnerships?

The deadline for submitting comments is quickly approaching.

To ensure your input receives full consideration, comments must be received by the DOT on or before October 20, 2025.

The official Request for Information can be found under the following docket:

Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT-OST-2025-1326]

Access the full document and submit comments HERE.

This DOT analysis offers a key opportunity to develop and implement strategies that can effectively combat and lower cargo theft rates. We encourage you to share your perspective by providing feedback.

Do you have any questions about the DOT regulations? Contact ICC Compliance Center 1-888-442-9628 (U.S.) or 1-888-977-4834 (Canada) if you have questions regarding the regulations in general or need products to help you comply