Good Monday morning. Highway's new Q3 freight fraud report reveals a staggering digital assault: over 605,000 fraudulent emails blocked. We break down the numbers and how you can protect your business from this evolving threat.
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🍳What's Cookin' In Freight
🚗 Shaq’s $180K Range Rover Vanishes. Authorities are investigating the theft of Shaquille O’Neal’s custom 2025 Range Rover, valued at $180,000, after it disappeared while being shipped from Georgia to Louisiana. Investigators believe someone posed as a transporter to steal the SUV. The vehicle, modified for O’Neal’s 7-foot-1 frame by Effortless Motors, never arrived at its destination, and GPS data suggests it may already be inside a shipping container overseas. The driver listed for the delivery was never dispatched, according to FirstLine Trucking LLC. Effortless Motors is offering a $10,000 reward while authorities pursue suspects linked to an Atlanta location.
🚨 DOT Targets California Over Truck Licensing Failures. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accusedCalifornia of violating federal law by issuing commercial driver’s licenses to noncitizens, including Jashanpreet Singh, the trucker charged in a fatal I-10 crash that killed three people. Duffy said the state ignored new federal rules meant to block asylum seekers from obtaining CDLs, calling the tragedy “preventable.” Duffy plans to withhold $160 million in federal funds while hinting at the possibility of restricting California from issuing CDLs altogether. California officials deny wrongdoing, insisting they’re in compliance with the revised standards, which now restrict CDLs to specific visa holders verified through federal checks.
⚖️ Next Up in TQL–Pink Cheetah Broker Transparency Battle. Pink Cheetah Express has appealed its case against TQL to the D.C. Circuit Court, setting up what could become a landmark test of broker transparency rules, according to Matthew Leffler. The carrier could also refile its complaint, arguing that 49 C.F.R. § 371.3 invalidates industrywide waiver clauses, potentially forcing brokers to disclose load records. The appeal comes as FMCSA prepares its 2026 supplemental transparency rule, with the outcome likely to shape future broker–carrier contracts. Per Leffler's words, the battle now shifts from “ice cream loads to icebergs.” The entire industry is watching.
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A staggering 605,728 fraudulent emails and 62,531 spoofed calls targeting the freight industry were blocked in Q3 alone, according to Highway's latest Freight Fraud Index Report.
The data reveals a dramatic evolution in criminal tactics, with fraudsters shifting their focus from carriers to the digital systems of freight brokers.
Why it Matters
Currently, cargo theft is a coordinated, digital assault on the entire supply chain. As carriers improve their defenses, sophisticated fraud networks are exploiting vulnerabilities in brokerage operations, from compromised emails to internal moles.
"The current landscape is shifting risk more downstream...from carriers being the primary target to brokers and digital intermediaries becoming the focal point," said Michael Caney, CCO at Highway.
The Details
The Q3 report paints a stark picture of a global, organized threat. Fraudulent login attempts originated from 40 different countries, with India, Serbia, and Pakistan leading the list.
In the U.S., California, Texas, Florida, and Indianapolis are major hot spots for fraudulent activity.
The methods are becoming shockingly personal and insidious, moving beyond simple hacks to sophisticated social engineering.
Caney revealed that criminals are creating insider threats in two ways: by attempting to recruit moles within brokerages, and by directly paying carriers to cooperate in fraud schemes.
"I firmly believe 100% that there are bad actors that are paying carriers to click a phishing link... and they say 'I'll split [the profits of the stolen load] with you,'" Caney stated.
This social engineering highlights a critical vulnerability: the human element. Highway's data shows that fraud thrives on urgency and anonymity, two things that are rampant in a transactional, spot-market environment.
This is compounded by what Caney describes as newer brokers who lack the discipline of building a vetted carrier base, creating fertile ground for criminals.
Watch a replay of last week's Highway + FreightCaviar freight fraud Webinar here.
What's Next
Fraud is a problem that will never be "solved," only managed. Both brokers and carriers must adapt their security posture.
For Brokers: Prioritize Digital Defense. Caney outlined that the single most important strategy is to treat your digital security like physical cargo security.
Enable two-factor authentication on all systems immediately.
Train your team to recognize phishing attempts and social engineering tactics.
Build a culture of security, not convenience. As Caney warned, "You don't take it serious enough" if process violations don't have consequences.
Vet your carrier network continuously. Move away from a "post and pray" mentality and build relationships with trusted partners.
For Carriers: Guard Your Identity. Your digital footprint is your most valuable asset.
Secure your email inboxes and be skeptical of unsolicited links or requests for information.
Understand that security protocols protect you. While verification steps can feel cumbersome, they are designed to keep your identity from being stolen and used to commit fraud.
Report suspicious activity immediately to your partners and platforms like Highway.
Read the full Q3 2025 Freight Fraud Index Report on Highway.com.
Headed to the Broker-Carrier Summit? Come say hi to Jin Stedge and Luis Duco from TrueNorth! We’ll be showing off our AI Loadboard, which we built to make broker-carrier matching faster, smarter, and easier. Stop by, chat with us, and see how TrueNorth’s tech can help you cover more loads and save more time.
đźšš Covenant Sees Growth. Covenant Logistics boosted Q3 revenue 3.1% to $296.9M as demand stayed muted. CEO David Parker said asset-light growth and cost control remain key amid overcapacity.
đź’° U.S. OEMs Prep for Gains. With 25% truck import tariffs starting Nov. 1, Paccar plans to shift more production to the U.S. after laying off 300 workers in Quebec to boost market share.
🇨🇦 Canada Tariffs. On Oct. 25, President Trump said U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports will rise by 10%, in retaliation after an Ontario-backed ad using a Reagan clip went viral. The move follows stalled talks and adds tension ahead of the upcoming Supreme Court tariff hearings.
🏠Ford Q3 Hit. The September fire at Novelis’ aluminum plant in Oswego, NY, is set to cost Ford $1.5–$2 billion in Q3. Aluminum output is now set to resume by the end of December, months ahead of the expected 2026 timeline.
🙅‍♂️ ATA Critique. FreightWaves’ Craig Fuller argues ATA policies, rooted in a “driver shortage” narrative, have weakened carrier economics and public safety, urging for renewed policy reform across labor and safety frameworks.
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I’m Adriana, a writer and editor at FreightCaviar. I’ve covered everything from freight tech to industry lawsuits and market shifts, helping scale us to almost 14K subscribers. My goal: to make logistics stories digestible, clear, and fun to read.
Hello! I'm Jerome FreightCaviar! I’m into the politics of freight and the impact it will have worldwide. I'm always eager to learn more. Follow me on X @JeromeFreightC
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