Regional Economic Indicators (Southeast Focus)
Nearly $111M in data center freight stolen as thieves test ‘bump and run’ tactic (Freightwaves)
Summary: Cargo thieves have stolen nearly $111 million in data center equipment and high-value technology freight since June 3, using a new ‘bump-and-run’ tactic that involves crashing into security escorts while compromised drivers flee with the load. Scott Cornell of SPG Cargo & Logistics and TAPA Americas says carrier verification failures enabled both escorted thefts, and that international crime rings now operate parallel supply chains capable of moving stolen goods out of the country within days. Individual losses range from $2 million to $38 million, with average values sharply higher than historical norms.
Why it matters: For Southeast-focused logistics and tech infrastructure stakeholders, this signals a targeted, organized threat to data center buildouts—a sector already straining under supply chain pressure—and exposes verification gaps that can turn a single shipment into an eight-figure loss.
Context: Cargo theft has historically been a regional, opportunistic crime, but Cornell’s data shows a shift toward coordinated, high-value technology heists with international distribution networks, often exploiting paper bills of lading and rushed carrier onboarding.
"Scott Cornell confirmed that cargo thieves deliberately struck security escorts protecting two high-value technology shipments. The drivers then continued with each load instead of stopping for help. Cornell serves as EVP and." — FREIGHTWAVES
Commentary: The bump-and-run tactic is a step-change in sophistication, but the root cause is mundane: carriers are still being vetted with Google searches and paper documents. For Southeast data center corridors—from Atlanta to Northern Virginia—this should accelerate adoption of digital bills of lading and real-time carrier verification, but expect resistance from brokers who see compliance as a cost, not a shield. The $110.6 million figure likely undercounts unreported thefts, meaning the true drag on regional tech infrastructure is worse than headlines suggest.
Date: August 14, 2026 02:24 PM ET
URL: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nearly-111m-in-data-center-freight-stolen-as-thieves-test-bump-and-run-tactic
AI Sentiment Score: Negative (77%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.New Trucking Authorities: Are They Sustainable? (Freightwaves)
Summary: New trucking operating authorities are up more than 5,000 net year to date, but 19,594 revocations and a June data artifact from the Modus system transition mean the headline overstates real capacity. Driver shortages—exacerbated by an aging workforce and tighter immigration enforcement—plus broker reluctance to tender to unrated carriers, cap any meaningful expansion. Demand remains firm, with tender rejections at 13.5% and domestic intermodal volumes up 7% over two years, suggesting mode conversion rather than demand loss. The end-of-August ‘brake check’ will signal whether the market enters a hotter cycle.
Why it matters: For Southeast-focused readers tracking regional logistics and industrial activity, this signals that capacity constraints will persist into peak season, potentially driving up spot rates and shifting freight to rail—affecting warehouse utilization, port throughput, and manufacturing supply chains across the region.
Context: The trucking industry has been in a capacity glut since 2023, but this data suggests a structural tightening driven by driver supply, not just cyclical demand. The Modus system transition created a data gap that complicates interpretation, but the underlying trend of net authority growth is real.
“I don’t see the case for continued increase in capacity because you’re not going to be able to find drivers to fill the seats. That even if fleets wanted to expand, we’ve heard this consistently, is that they’re having to pay more for drivers. The driver environment is getting harder and harder. And that is going to keep the cap on capacity.” — Julie Van de Kamp
Commentary: The 20-40% immigrant driver share is the sleeper stat—immigration enforcement isn’t just a border issue, it’s a freight capacity lever. If brokers won’t tender to new MCs, the net authority gain is mostly paper, not pavement. Watch the brake check: a hot signal could push spot rates up 10-15% into Q4, benefiting incumbent carriers but squeezing small shippers in the Southeast.
Date: August 12, 2026 03:44 PM ET
URL: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/new-trucking-authorities-are-they-sustainable
AI Sentiment Score: Positive (50%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.Post ID: b154a383