TAKEAWAYS
ROBBERIES ON THE RAILS While the surge in cargo theft on American roads has been well documented, less attention has been given to the increase of theft on the rails. Cargo heists of high-value shipments are on the rise, too, with the Association of American Railroads documenting 65,000+ thefts in 2024 —40% more than the previous year. Those thefts cost the industry more than $100 million, the association notes in its newest fact sheet. Here’s the breakdown: Methods of theft. Authorities suggest that criminals identify high-value shipments through insider tips from warehouse workers or by spotting visible locks on containers.
Tactics used. Thieves often disable trains by cutting air hoses to trigger emergency stops or wait for routine halts in remote areas to ooad stolen goods. Some immediately transport merchandise away, while others hide stolen items near the tracks for later retrieval. Primary targets. Nike sneakers are the most frequently stolen items, with other high-value goods such as gaming headsets and smart vacuums also targeted. Recent trends. In the past year, 90% of train heists involving BNSF trains in the Mojave Desert specifically targeted Nike products. Challenges in prevention. Train robberies are dicult to detect, as conductors may be unaware of thefts occurring in containers positioned miles away. Additionally, securing the 140,000+ miles of railways across the United States presents a significant logistical challenge.
AMERICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE FLUNKS THE TEST American students sometimes get a bad rap for failing grades, but it’s U.S. infrastructure that really needs to boost performance. The American Society of Civil Engineers recently gave the country’s infrastructure a measly C on its report card . Worse yet, that C grade is an improvement from a C- in 2021 (the last full report card)—and marks the nation’s highest grade since the ratings began in 1998. American roads scored abysmally, with a D rating. One bright spot: ports and rail scored in the Bs.
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April 2025 • Inbound Logistics 17
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