Truck operators' group set out plans for a national push against cargo theft

In March 2026, the Canadian Truck Operators Association (CTOA) said it planned to launch a national freight security initiative to tackle the growing theft of cargo, trailers and equipment across Canada.

The Mississauga-based association cited industry estimates and cargo security reports putting North American cargo theft losses at roughly $725 million in 2025, a sharp rise from earlier years. It noted that trucks carry more than 70% of Canada's domestic freight, and that police and industry had reported hundreds of incidents in recent years in busy freight corridors such as the Greater Toronto Area and Peel Region.

Organized tactics

The CTOA said criminal networks were going after high-value loads with increasingly sophisticated methods, including fraudulent carrier identities, fictitious pickups and coordinated theft operations.

"Freight and trailer theft is no longer an isolated issue affecting a few companies, it is becoming a broader supply chain security challenge," said Tej Dulat of the CTOA.

What the initiative would include

The association had already begun sharing information among its members about thefts and suspicious activity. Building on that, it said it was exploring:

• Real-time information sharing among carriers, brokers, insurers and police.
• An industry alert system to warn fleets and drivers about stolen freight, suspicious pickups and new threats.
• Closer work with federal, provincial and municipal authorities on investigations and enforcement.
• Security awareness and prevention training for fleets, drivers, dispatchers, brokers and warehouse staff.
• More consistent reporting and better data collection on cargo theft.

The CTOA said it would engage industry, law enforcement, insurers, technology providers and governments in the following weeks as it worked toward a national coordination framework.