A driver arrives at a warehouse with legitimate-looking paperwork, a verified carrier profile and the correct shipment information. The load is released without incident. Hours later, when it fails to reach its destination, the legitimate carrier claims no knowledge of the pickup. The driver was an impersonator, the credentials were fabricated and the freight has disappeared. For warehouse operators, this scenario reflects a fundamental shift in cargo theft. Criminal networks

A container clears customs at the Port of Los Angeles on Monday morning. The warehouse receiving window 40 miles inland closes at 3 p.m. Wednesday. By Tuesday afternoon, chassis availability tightens, the drayage carrier misses the dispatch...