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Which Holidays Have the Highest Cargo Theft Rates?
Not all holidays carry the same cargo theft risk. Learn which holiday periods see the highest freight theft activity and why carriers, brokers, and fleets should pay extra attention during these high-risk times.
July 9, 2026
In this video, Ryan Kiefer, director, Travelers Special Investigations Group, breaks down industry cargo theft trends and explains which holiday periods pose the greatest risk to freight, carriers, brokers, and drivers.
Using industry-reported theft data, the discussion highlights how reduced staffing, facility closures, extended weekends, and unattended freight create opportunities for organized cargo thieves.
Topics covered in this video include:
- Which holidays have the highest cargo theft rates
- Christmas to New Year's theft trends
- Thanksgiving cargo theft risks
- Independence Day freight theft activity
- Labor Day cargo theft statistics
- Memorial Day cargo security concerns
- Why theft increases during holidays
- Industry cargo theft reporting
- CargoNet theft data and trends
- Freight security best practices
- Reporting theft attempts
- The importance of industry awareness
- Cargo theft prevention strategies
- Supply chain security challenges
Key takeaways include:
- Christmas through New Year's consistently records the highest number of reported cargo theft incidents.
- Thanksgiving week continues to see increasing theft activity year over year.
- Independence Day remains one of the highest-risk single-day holidays.
- Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends create elevated theft risks, especially on the Friday before the holiday.
- Industry reporting plays a critical role in improving prevention efforts and supporting law enforcement investigations.