Freight industry faces rising insider cargo theft risk through “Trojan Driver” schemes

Cargo theft tactics are shifting toward insider infiltration at legitimate trucking companies, FreightWaves reported May 14, 2026, citing Scott Cornell, chief risk officer at SPG Cargo & Logistics. The emerging “Trojan Driver” scheme places bad actors in driver roles, giving theft groups direct control over freight movement and handoff timing. Cornell said the method surfaced through repeated inconsistencies across theft cases, including unexplained parking locations, route deviations, conflicting driver information and communication gaps. Similar incidents reported by multiple companies indicated a broader pattern rather than isolated thefts. The tactic reflects an adaptation by organized theft groups as brokers and shippers improve carrier vetting and fraud detection. Unlike fake carrier or identity scams, the insider-driver model requires hiring, trust-building and patience, making it slower to scale but harder to detect. Cornell said the exposure lies largely in carrier hiring and screening, creating a gap for brokers that can verify carriers but not compromised drivers in real time. The report says stronger shared standards and information sharing may be needed across shippers, brokers and carriers.