Bipartisan legislation that freight transportation stakeholders view as critical in the fight against cargo theft passed the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 13.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) would improve overall enforcement capabilities and foster coordination among federal, state, and local agencies. That includes expanding forfeiture and money-laundering authorities and allowing prosecutors to combine repeated thefts into stronger cases. 

The Department of Homeland Security would be tasked with leading a cohesive national response to cargo theft.

“The passage of CORCA by the House Judiciary Committee represents a pivotal moment in our fight to protect our supply chain,” said Chris Spear, president of the American Trucking Associations.

Cargo theft costs trucking an estimated $18 million a day, and across the supply chain, the cost is as high as $35 billion annually. Reported cargo theft incidents in the United States and Canada are up more than 90% since 2021, with high-tech strategic cargo thefts soaring by 1,500%.  
 
Ian Jefferies, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads, called CORCA “a critical step toward confronting the organized theft networks that are increasingly targeting freight railroads, truckers, retailers, and workers across the nation.”

“We now urge the House to vote on it and for the Senate to quickly follow suit and pass it into law,” said David French, executive vice president of government relations with the National Retail Federation.

Appropriations package includes cargo theft measure

ATA said an appropriations package expected to be approved by Congress would begin the process of establishing a unified, federal response to cargo theft.  

Once signed by President Trump, the legislation directs the Department of Justice to provide a briefing within 120 days on plans to establish regional task forces, led by the FBI.