A report by WKRN says cargo thefts are increasing in Tennessee, with the Midstate now ranking fourth nationally for the highest volume of incidents. Recent data from Overhaul, a supply chain risk tracking firm, indicates the first year-over-year nationwide decline in cargo thefts since 2021. However, Memphis stands out as a hotspot, experiencing a 27% rise compared to the previous year.

According to Danny Ramon, Director of Intelligence and Response at Overhaul, while first-quarter activity was lower than the prior year, the seasonal drop from Q4 to Q1 was smaller than usual. Tennessee’s entry into the top five is a relatively new development, driven largely by Memphis’s role as a major freight crossroads for both over-the-road and intermodal air cargo.

Semi-trucks are a primary target in the state. Thieves often follow trucks out of Memphis and strike 200–250 miles away, with sophisticated crews traveling in convoys of civilian vehicles capable of emptying an entire 53-foot trailer by hand in under 10 minutes. Other tactics include using fake credentials to hijack loads early in the process. Fraud-based schemes are also becoming more common.

Although law enforcement is making progress, experts emphasize that greater awareness is key to prevention. Criminals are increasingly targeting areas with little prior experience of cargo theft, catching victims unprepared with highly sophisticated operations that are difficult to detect and recover from. In the first quarter of 2026, there was an average of 6.4 cargo thefts per day nationwide.