Labor Day weekend is supposed to be a time for rest. But for organized cargo thieves, it’s an opportunity. This past holiday, Fair Trade Logistics encountered an attempted theft of a truckload of green coffee beans valued at more than $150,000. Thanks to fast coordination and the right safeguards, the shipment was saved.
This case offers a timely reminder: freight fraud and cargo theft are no longer isolated incidents. They’re systemic, growing, and increasingly sophisticated.
The Incident
On August 28th, a truckload of green coffee beans was tendered to a carrier that had passed every layer of due diligence: FMCSA checks, MyCarrierPortal compliance, and CarrierOK vetting.
But behind that legitimacy was fraud. The carrier’s operating authority had been sold to bad actors, stealing multiple truckloads of product that same week. Once the load was moving, members of this double-broker network began contacting the driver directly, instructing him to divert the freight to an unauthorized warehouse in Southern California.
Had that diversion succeeded, the beans would have disappeared permanently.
How the Shipment Was Protected
Fair Trade Logistics and our partner Margin Freight took immediate action:
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Driver coordination – Ensured the driver ignored fraudulent instructions.
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Warehouse support – Worked with both origin facilities to assist in sending photos of the truck, trailer, driver's license, and plate numbers.
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Law enforcement involvement – Partnered with the California Highway Patrol and Victorville Police to secure the situation.
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Crossdock solution – Arranged secure storage at Sky High Crossdock in Ontario, CA until after the holiday.
By September 4th, the freight was reloaded with a vetted carrier and safely delivered to the Pacific Northwest.
The customer faced only a short delay, no product loss, and no additional financial burden. Fair Trade Logistics covered the incremental costs of re-routing.
The Bigger Picture: Cargo Theft Trends
This incident wasn’t unique. It’s part of a larger industry trend:
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Strategic theft: up 1,500% since 2021, with criminals impersonating legitimate carriers.
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Overall cargo theft: up 27% in 2024 (CargoNet) and 40% in 2024 (Overhaul).
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Double brokering: surging by as much as 400% in certain regions.
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Email compromise and phishing: fraud attempts up 41% in one quarter of 2025.
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Average value per theft: now over $200,000 per incident.
Holidays and long weekends are especially risky. With fewer staff monitoring shipments, fraudsters exploit gaps in communication and oversight.
Key Takeaways for Shippers
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Vetting is necessary, but not sufficient. Even previously legitimate carriers can be compromised.
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Always verify from multiple sources. Ensure that truck driver information, MC numbers, and DOT numbers match was was provided by your carrier or broker.
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Plan for holiday vulnerabilities. Shipments over long weekends require added vigilance.
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Have a security network. Trusted crossdocks, backup carriers, and law enforcement contacts are essential.
Why This Matters for Coffee Shippers
Coffee — often moved in high-value truckload volumes — is a prime target. The high value of your beans makes it attractive to thieves, and shipments are constantly in motion and vulnerable.
At Fair Trade Logistics, we specialize in protecting these movements. Our processes don’t stop at booking a truck — they extend to monitoring, verifying, and intervening when something doesn’t look right.
Final Word
The attempted theft over Labor Day was resolved without loss. But the lesson is clear: cargo theft is accelerating, and shippers cannot assume that standard vetting alone is enough.
The question every shipper should be asking is: what would happen if this happened to my freight?
Fair Trade Logistics is committed to ensuring that your answer is: nothing — because we prevented it.
👉 If you’re shipping coffee or specialty foods and want a logistics partner who actively safeguards your freight, reach out today. Let’s talk about how to protect your supply chain against the growing risks of theft and fraud.
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