Cargo Theft Bill Awaits Senate Vote After 348-60 House Passage
More than 200 companies, including BNSF and the American Trucking Associations, are urging the Senate to pass HR 2853, which would coordinate federal and local law enforcement on organized theft operations.
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (HR 2853) passed the House 348-60 last month and now sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee. More than 200 companies and trade groups signed a letter asking Senate leadership to move the bill forward.
What does the cargo theft bill actually do?
HR 2853 would coordinate investigations between federal, state, local, and railroad law enforcement agencies targeting organized theft operations. It would also improve coordination between law enforcement and private-sector security teams, giving investigators and prosecutors better tools to dismantle the networks behind the thefts.
The bill does not address routine retail theft or expand immigration enforcement. It targets organized criminal conduct that exploits cargo, resale channels, and financial mechanisms like gift cards to convert stolen goods into cash.
How much does organized cargo theft cost trucking?
Organized retail and supply-chain theft costs the trucking industry $18 million daily, according to the letter sent to Majority Leader John Thune, Majority Whip John Barrasso, Minority Leader Charles Schumer, and Minority Whip Dick Durbin. Railroads reported more than $200 million in losses from cargo theft in 2025.
The letter notes that these crimes have become more violent in recent years, increasing risks for workers, law enforcement, and the communities they serve. Criminal networks increasingly exploit cargo and resale channels to fuel broader illicit activity.
Who is backing the bill?
Signers of the letter include the Association of American Railroads, BNSF Railway, the American Trucking Associations, Retail Industry Leaders Association, the National District Attorneys Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The bill was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee the day after the House passed it. No vote date has been announced.
What this means for small fleets
HR 2853 does not mandate new equipment or compliance requirements for carriers. It is a law-enforcement coordination tool. If the bill becomes law, the practical effect for small fleets would be better federal support for local agencies investigating cargo theft, which could reduce the frequency of high-value loads being targeted by organized networks.
Fleets already using a digital carrier-packet workflow to verify broker legitimacy and avoid double-brokering scams would see no new paperwork burden from this legislation. The bill targets the criminal networks behind the thefts, not the carriers hauling the freight.
