CORCA passes House to strengthen federal response to cargo theft and freight crime
Key takeaways
- CORCA passed the House, moving to the Senate to strengthen federal coordination on organized retail crime.
- The bill enhances enforcement tools and improves cross-agency collaboration to fight freight-related crime.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security would lead a unified national response to better align law enforcement against organized criminal networks.
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) passed the U.S. House of Representatives, advancing legislation designed to create a unified federal response to cargo theft and organized retail crime. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration before reaching the president.
The legislation focuses on improving enforcement tools and strengthening coordination among federal, state, and local agencies to address cargo theft that often spans domestic and international borders. It also assigns the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsibility for leading a coordinated national response.
The bill has gained support across industry stakeholders, who point to rising sophistication in theft tactics and increasing strain on supply chains and motor carriers. Cargo theft costs the trucking industry an estimated $18 million per day, according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), and strategic theft has increased 1,500% since 2021, according to CargoNet. The bill aims to help law enforcement better connect criminal activity patterns and respond more effectively to organized networks.
Industry reaction to House-approved CORCA freight crime bill
Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), said CORCA represents a pivotal step in addressing freight crime and protecting supply chains.
“CORCA will give our industry and law enforcement the tools we need to fight back against highly organized, technologically advanced cargo theft rings, which are often orchestrated by transnational criminal groups,” Spear stated. “Reps. David Joyce and Susie Lee deserve enormous credit for their bipartisan leadership of this critical legislation, and we thank their colleagues for voting in support.”
Jim Mullen, president of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), highlighted the importance of coordination across industry and government in responding to cargo theft.
"TCA is pleased that the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) has passed the House of Representatives and commends lawmakers for addressing the urgent threats of cargo theft and organized retail crime,” Mullen said. “While this is an initial step, we are encouraged by CORCA’s momentum and look forward to building stronger partnerships, enhancing coordination, and creating long-term solutions to better protect supply chains, businesses, and consumers nationwide."
