On Tuesday, members of the American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board wrote to leaders of the House as well as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to urge them to pass legislation to address the continuing increase of cargo theft.
LEAB is composed of current or former public safety officials who work ro improve the relationship between trucking and law enforcement. The group strongly supports the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act because it would help law enforcement solve crimes that target the supply chain.
“Cargo theft is not merely a property crime — it is a growing public safety threat that endangers drivers, law enforcement personnel, and the traveling public,” the leaders of LEAB wrote. “Those of us charged with protecting commercial motor vehicle operations see firsthand how organized theft groups target freight corridors, distribution hubs, and drivers. Federal coordination is indispensable to confronting this threat and ensuring the safety of our transportation system.”
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously in January and is cosponsored by about half of both the House and Senate. The bill would strengthen law enforcement’s capabilities to dismantle organized theft groups by enhancing legal frameworks; improving enforcement capabilities; and fostering coordination among federal, state, and local agencies.
“Swift passage of this critical legislation will provide law enforcement with the federal partnership we urgently need to protect drivers, safeguard freight corridors, and secure the nation’s supply chains,” the leaders of LEAB concluded.
Cargo theft is becoming increasingly prevalent and high-tech, and it often originates overseas. The American Transportation Research Institute calculated that cargo theft is costing the trucking industry over $18 million per day.
