How Leading Brands Are Fighting Cargo Theft

I recently attended an event in Washington, D.C., where I had the opportunity to sit down with major retailers and CPG companies to talk about one of the toughest challenges facing our industry today: cargo theft.

It’s a problem that continues to grow in both scale and sophistication. Criminals are no longer just cutting locks; they’re using impersonation, forged documents, and double brokering to infiltrate logistics networks. Traditional security measures like gates and cameras, while still important, simply aren’t enough on their own.

What struck me in these conversations was how companies are moving beyond incremental fixes and adopting a layered, technology-driven approach. At Vector, we’ve had the opportunity to partner with some of the world’s leading brands on this exact issue.

How a CPG leader shut down identity-based theft

One global CPG company had been plagued by repeated theft incidents tied to fraudulent driver check-ins. In just a single year, they recorded more than 30 stolen loads from a single site.

The company introduced a digital driver verification process, powered by Vector’s PreCheck YMS platform. Brokers and carriers now submit driver information in advance, and that data is verified against federal records and Vector’s own intelligence network. Drivers are approved before they ever arrive at the facility.

The results: thefts dropped from 30 incidents in 2024 to zero in 2025; and with Vector’s eBOL powered YMS, dwell times were reduced 30% with drop loads being processed in under 15 minutes and live loads under 45 minutes. Whether it’s cargo fraud, long dwell times, or inefficient resource utilization, security and efficiency go hand in hand with Vector.

How a retailer tackled fraudulent proof-of-delivery

A well-known national retailer faced a different challenge: criminals exploiting weaknesses in the proof-of-delivery (POD) process. Fake or manipulated PODs made it appear as though shipments were received when they weren’t.

The retailer partnered with Vector to deploy an AI-driven fraud detection system. By ingesting and analyzing PODs across multiple carriers, the system flags questionable documentation for review and provides digital evidence to support claims. With many receivers having unique markings on PODs and BOLs, AI is a great tool to sift through vast amounts of data at a much more precise and efficient manner than a human could ever achieve.

This has given the retailer clearer visibility into shipments, reduced shrinkage, and provided the confidence that what leaves the dock will be precisely what arrives at its destination.

A holistic approach to combating cargo theft

These examples highlight a larger shift: cargo theft can no longer be treated as an inevitable cost of doing business. Leaders across industries are recognizing that prevention requires both process discipline and modern tools.

For me, it’s an honor to work alongside these companies and support their teams as they take on such a critical challenge. Helping them safeguard their supply chains while building greater trust with their customers is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do at Vector.

As supply chains become more complex, the companies that will come out ahead are those that pair operational efficiency with robust safeguards, ensuring that protecting goods and delivering them on time go hand in hand.

How Two Customers are Beating Cargo Fraud with Vector

Cargo fraud remains among the most pressing challenges in modern supply chains. Historically, many supply chain leaders didn’t take action, as they felt their products were immune to theft. Unfortunately, the game has changed, and that mindset doesn’t work in today’s supply chain. Sophisticated thieves now use tactics such as impersonation, fraudulent or manipulated documents, and double brokering to infiltrate logistics networks, exploit weaknesses along the chain, and steal high-value goods. 

Traditional security measures such as gates, cameras, and guards are no longer enough. As Verisk CargoNet’s Keith Lewis recently noted, “The industry must adopt a multi-layered approach combining physical security, digital verification, and real-time intelligence sharing to combat these evolving threats.” Across industries, Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) are rethinking their defenses.

Vector customers are proving that with the right digital tools, supply chain leaders can dramatically reduce exposure to fraud while also unlocking operational efficiencies. Two leading brands – one in consumer packaged goods (CPG) and one in retail – illustrate how.

Case 1: A top CPG company turned vulnerability into resilience

This multinational CPG leader faced a serious theft problem at its distribution centers. Over the course of just one year, it experienced 30 separate theft incidents, driven by fraudulent driver check-ins and identity scams.

The turning point: Vector PreCheck

A Vector customer since 2021, this CPG giant had already increased its shipment volume while simultaneously reducing dwell time, as well as strengthened security protocols and improved safety across its facilities—proving that operational efficiency and cargo protection can go hand in hand. 

In response to the theft incidents, the company deployed Vector PreCheck in 2024. 

PreCheck requires carriers to submit driver information in advance of arrival. Shipping clerks can then digitally verify driver credentials against Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) authority records and Vector’s network intelligence, ensuring the carrier has the proper authority and that the specific driver hasn’t had any incidents at the customer’s other facilities. Vector informs the driver that they have been approved before they arrive at the facility.

The results were dramatic: with Vector PreCheck, the CPG company’s theft incidents have dropped from 30 to zero. For this industry leader, Vector serves as a cost saver on two fronts, both as a platform for modernizing workflows across facilities as well as a prevention tool for financial loss.

Case 2: A leading retailer stopped fraud at the source

On the retail side, one of the nation’s most recognizable department store brands needed a way to combat fraud in its proof-of-delivery (POD) process. Fraudulent PODs are a growing problem, with thieves manipulating or fabricating delivery documentation to “prove” a shipment arrived when it did not.

The turning point: Vector’s AI model

The retailer partnered with Vector to pilot an AI-powered fraud detection system. Here’s how it worked:

1. Ingest proof of deliveries – Collecting PODs from multiple carriers and sources.
2. Parse and extract data – Using AI to convert unstructured documents into structured data.
3. Triage for human review – Flagging questionable documents so employees could investigate.
4. Continuous learning – Leveraging parameter-efficient tuning to make the model smarter with every iteration.

The system features Vector’s AI Blocks, modular building blocks that define how the AI extracts and processes information. Each block includes foundational context pre-defined by Vector, as well as user-generated queries to retrieve specific information—e.g., “What is the seal number for this shipment?” By structuring the AI in this way, Vector ensures that customers retain control over the automation, ensuring accuracy and trust in the system.

The retailer gained several significant benefits through the pilot: 

• Enhanced shipment visibility and insight, supported by geotagged visual evidence including digital captures of electronic bills of lading (eBOL), trailer conditions, freight integrity, and seal validation. The company could see the ‘story’ of each shipment from origin to delivery, shedding light on the blind spots thieves often exploit.
• Theft deterrence and reduction of shrink, with drivers confirming carton counts and providing the exact number of cartons shipped, as well as verification that trailers were properly sealed before departure. 
• Optimized claims and financial restitution, featuring automated evidence gathering and documentation in the Vector Portal, ready to be digitally shared in the event of an incident. What previously might have taken weeks of back-and-forth was now accelerated by having airtight, digital evidence at the retailer’s fingertips.

With transparency, accountability, and trust at every step of the journey, Vector’s AI helped the retailer achieve faster fraud detection, more reliable POD data, reduced financial exposure, and greater confidence that what is ordered will be exactly what is delivered.

Additional Vector tools for cargo theft prevention

Beyond PreCheck and AI-powered fraud detection, Vector’s broader platform provides shippers and retailers with even more ways to prevent theft and strengthen supply chain security:

Electronic Bill of Lading (eBOL)

With Vector’s eBOL, shipment documentation is fully digital, eliminating the risk of manipulation or loss associated with paper bills. Shippers, carriers, and receivers all access the same real-time digital version of the document, ensuring accuracy and transparency. Each eBOL packet includes photographic evidence, including trailer, product, and seal photos, providing irrefutable proof throughout the shipment lifecycle.

• Explore eBOL
• See how it works

Yard Management

Cargo theft often happens before trucks even leave the yard. Vector’s Yard Management solution helps operators maintain an accurate, digital inventory of every trailer and its contents on-site. By combining perimeter security with real-time tracking of trailer movements, operators can pinpoint the exact location of goods and respond quickly if anything appears suspicious.

• Explore Yard Management
• See how it works

Document Capture

Drivers are the frontline of supply chain security. With Vector’s Document Capture technology – integrated directly into driver workflows via onboard tablets or smartphones – drivers can instantly upload photographic evidence and shipment documents. This not only reduces paperwork but also creates a secure, time-stamped, digital trail that can be critical for theft prevention and claims resolution.

• Explore Document Capture
• See how it works

Putting cargo theft in the rear-view mirror

Cargo fraud and theft extend far beyond operational headaches; they pose existential risks to global brands. Yet as the experiences of these customers demonstrate, companies don’t have to accept theft as inevitable. 

With tools like PreCheck and AI-powered document intelligence, Vector customers are turning the tide, achieving measurable reductions in theft while also creating faster, more efficient supply chains.

Ready to stop cargo fraud in its tracks? Discover how Vector can protect your supply chain today.