April 10th, 2025 – A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers has introduced the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA) to tackle a sharp rise in thefts from truck trailers and shipping containers, which have become more frequent and sophisticated over the past three years.
Introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) – along with other House members – the bill aims to boost federal enforcement and improve coordination among law enforcement, shippers, and carriers.
CORCA would create an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security to share intelligence and oversee multi-agency investigations into cargo and retail theft.
“Organized theft rings deploy innovative tactics to pilfer goods,” said Grassley. “Our bill improves the federal response and deters future attacks on American retailers.”
Key provisions include:
- Expanding federal law to treat cargo theft as an interstate commerce crime, allowing prosecutors to combine multiple incidents (totaling $5,000+ within 12 months) into a felony.
- Including cargo theft under the RICO Act, enabling law enforcement to seize vehicles, warehouses, and proceeds linked to theft rings—charges that carry up to 20 years in prison.
This is the third attempt to pass CORCA, but the first to directly address cargo theft in both trucking and rail. The expanded focus has drawn support from the American Trucking Associations (ATA), Association of American Railroads (AAR), and Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is expected to help fast-track the bill through Congress.
Rising Cargo Theft on Rails
The push follows a wave of high-profile rail thefts. In early 2025, trains in Arizona, California, and New Mexico carrying limited-edition Nike shoes were targeted. Thieves reportedly sabotaged brakes and signals and used lookouts to evade authorities.
Earlier cases included:
- 2022: Widespread looting near Union Pacific’s Los Angeles terminal
- 2024: Viral footage of theft from a Chicago train interchange
Despite arrests, charges were often minor.
“We’re arresting people on Monday and seeing them again by Friday,” said BNSF CEO Katie Farmer. “We can’t solve this alone.”
AAR CEO Ian Jefferies added, “Cargo theft spiked 40% last year. Disrupting these organized networks demands a unified federal response.”
Trucking Industry Also Hit Hard
Cargo theft has surged in trucking as well, especially through fraudulent freight bookings. Criminals impersonate carriers using valid USDOT numbers and then redirect shipments, leaving the legitimate driver unpaid and the freight untraceable.
Scams often involve spoofed emails, cloned documents, and stolen broker credentials.
“This trend raises costs and puts drivers at risk,” said ATA CEO Chris Spear. “We need stronger federal coordination to protect freight integrity.”
Despite stronger laws, experts warn that enforcement may still fall short, as many theft ringleaders operate from overseas.
