The State of Safety and Security in Freight & Logistics

Freight and logistics are built on trust. But in today's environment, trust alone isn't enough.

From cargo theft and identity fraud to compliance complexity and digital vulnerabilities, safety and security challenges are evolving faster than most companies can keep up. For carriers, brokers, and equipment owners, protecting assets and reputation has never been more critical.

Here's what the data says about where the industry stands, and how REPOWR is proactively addressing these risks.

Cargo Theft Is Rising And Becoming More Sophisticated

Cargo theft remains one of the most persistent threats in modern supply chains. According to CargoNet, theft incidents increased significantly year over year, with organized criminal networks increasingly targeting high-value freight through strategic deception rather than traditional break-ins.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and industry groups have similarly warned of a rise in strategic theft through fraudulent pickups, double-brokering schemes, and identity spoofing of legitimate carriers. Unlike traditional theft, modern cargo crime often begins digitally through impersonation or fraudulent paperwork, making it harder to detect and prevent.

Fraud and Identity Theft Are Growing Threats

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued multiple alerts about fraudulent motor carrier identities being used to secure loads under false pretenses, double-broker freight, and disappear with cargo entirely. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has called fraud "one of the fastest-growing threats facing the trucking industry."

These schemes thrive on weak verification systems and fragmented communication, two vulnerabilities that remain widespread across logistics networks.

Compliance Complexity Is Increasing

Beyond theft and fraud, regulatory compliance is a constant operational challenge. Motor carriers must navigate FMCSA safety standards, DOT equipment inspection requirements, insurance minimums and endorsements, trailer interchange agreements, and driver qualification and hours-of-service rules. As operations become more digital and distributed, maintaining consistent compliance documentation across networks becomes harder, not easier.

Why These Risks Are Intensifying Now

Several interconnected factors are amplifying today's safety and security challenges.

Financial pressure on carriers and brokers, driven by ongoing market volatility, increases vulnerability to fraud and corner-cutting. The shift toward digital transactions has expanded exposure to identity spoofing and bad actors operating online. Trailers sitting idle in the wrong markets create repositioning pressure that can introduce unvetted exchanges. And because freight moves through so many parties, consistent oversight is nearly impossible without centralized systems to support it.

How REPOWR Is Staying Ahead of Safety and Security Risks

REPOWR was built on the principle that flexibility must not come at the expense of security. As a technology-enabled trailer marketplace, safety isn't a feature; it's foundational to how the platform operates.

Verified Carrier Onboarding. Every carrier reserving equipment through REPOWR must validate their authority, confirm active insurance, and pass identity authentication through trusted industry verification platforms. This significantly reduces exposure to fraudulent or impersonated motor carriers.

Documented Trailer Interchange Agreements. Every reservation includes a formal interchange agreement that defines responsibilities during possession, coverage requirements, and inspection procedures, creating legal clarity and reducing ambiguity around damage or liability.

Digital Inspection and Visibility Controls. Pre- and post-trip inspection workflows create documented condition records, while integrations with leading telematics providers ensure real-time location visibility and reduce the risk of unauthorized use. Visibility is one of the strongest deterrents to fraud and theft.

Controlled Reservation Flow. Unlike informal trailer exchanges, REPOWR reservations assign specific drivers, track time-bound access, and create digital audit trails, closing the gray areas where fraud and miscommunication most often occur.

Continuous Platform Monitoring. Security is not static. REPOWR continuously evaluates fraud trends, suspicious activity patterns, identity verification standards, and compliance updates, treating security as an evolving capability rather than a one-time setup.

Security and Flexibility Must Coexist

Historically, increasing flexibility meant sacrificing oversight. Today, technology makes both possible. On-demand equipment access can be flexible, efficient, and secure, but only when verification, documentation, and visibility are designed into the system from the start.

Safety and security in freight are not abstract concerns. They directly affect revenue, reputation, relationships, and operational continuity. As fraud grows more sophisticated and regulatory demands increase, platforms and partners must evolve accordingly.

At REPOWR, we believe flexibility should unlock opportunity, not introduce risk. That's why security, compliance, and verification aren't add-ons. They're the foundation.

Freight runs on trust. Trust runs on systems. And the systems must stay ahead.