19-05-2025
Freight fraud: How criminals found a way in
This fireside chat recap is from FreightWaves' Freight Fraud Symposium in Dallas on May 14.
FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Freight Fraud Dynamics: Root Cause and Preventive Strategies
DETAILS: Barry Conlon, CEO of Overhaul, discusses the evolving state of cargo theft and its impact on supply chains. Conlon emphasizes the importance of situational awareness and carrier validation to prevent theft. He also notes the rise in cargo theft due to consumer demand for immediate delivery and the sophistication of modern criminal gangs. He stresses the need for behavioral training, collaboration and advanced technologies like AI to combat these threats effectively.
SPEAKER: Barry Conlon, CEO and founder of Overhaul
BIO: With over 30 years of experience in supply chain security, Conlon is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of modern-day supply chain security standards and best practices. Prior to founding Overhaul, Conlon was the founder and CEO of FreightWatch, where he played a key role in shaping the industry.
KEY QUOTES FROM CONLON:
'My former career was military, and we always used situational awareness. Meaning, do I know what's happening around me? And if I do, do I have a better chance of survival? It's the same principle in supply chain, you have to know who's around you. You have to know, who am I dealing with? Do I know the true identity of this entity. … That's the challenge.'
'The real root cause of [freight fraud] is the increasing rates of cargo theft and the fact that in most cases, the freight was handed over to a criminal. … Shippers are just not accepting that anymore. And I think a lot of you know that your business can be genuinely impacted by this.'
'I can tell you the biggest change is our buying behavior as individuals. … We want to order it online, and [we] want it there later that afternoon. … and you're not questioning how it gets there and when it shows up. [Logistics] didn't operate that way before. … The stolen product is going to be delivered by a legitimate entity that's delivering to your doorstep.'
Articles by Grace Sharkey
DAT acquires Outgo, enters race to become dominant freight exchange platform
Avocados, auto parts and ambushes: Inside Mexico's cargo theft crisis
Cyberthreats surge against US logistics infrastructure
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