Fake carriers, cargo thefts and the falsification of transport and insurance documents have once again become a major and growing threat for European supply chains, both in terms of frequency and financial impact, the Union of Freight Forwarding Companies in Romania (USER) warns in a press release issued on Monday.
According to the organisation, the evolution of criminal methods, the digitalisation of haulage operations and the increasing pressures from insurers generate increasing operational and liability risks for freight forwarders.
In this context, USER, as a member of the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT) and as a representative of the Romanian freight forwarding sector at European level, initiated to bring this issue back on the CLECAT agenda, by presenting cases, analyses and trends observed in the market at the Supply Chain Security Institute meetings.
"As a result of USER's efforts, supported by other member associations, CLECAT has launched a coordinated process of analysis and action at European level on cargo theft. We will discuss these subjects in detail at the European Congress of Freight Forwarders, to be organised by USER in Bucharest between May 18 and 20," according to the organisation.
The CLECAT analysis confirms the rapid transformation of cargo theft into a form of organised, digitalised and cross-border crime. Although thefts from parked vehicles remain the most common, the greatest losses are generated by sophisticated logistics frauds, including: fraudulent use of transport exchanges and digital platforms; "fake carrier" schemes; complete diversion of loads without the use of force; exploitation of vulnerabilities in subcontracting chains.
Recent data from Germany indicate 88 cases of fake carriers in the first seven months of 2025, with total losses of about EUR 18 million and average values per incident close to EUR 200,000.
USER points out, in line with the CLECAT analysis, the accelerated tendency of insurers to transfer risks to freight forwarders through extended clauses on gross negligence; mandatory verification checklists; making compensation conditional on detailed operational procedures.
These requirements become difficult to apply in practice, especially for SMEs, and can lead to a disproportionate redistribution of responsibility in the supply chain, say USER members.
"Cargo theft is a cross-border phenomenon, but the authorities' response remains fragmented. There is persistent lack of dedicated harmonised European statistics; unequal levels of police expertise between states; slow cooperation and recovery mechanisms; limited use of existing data (toll, tracking, etc.). USER supports CLECAT's position that cargo theft must be treated as a form of organised crime, by strengthening cooperation between authorities, and not by new compliance obligations for legitimate operators," according to USER.
Following the steps initiated by USER and the contributions of other members, CLECAT agreed to launch coordinated actions at European level, such as: raising awareness among the actors in the supply chains; structured exchange of information on risks and modus operandi; developing a pragmatic European guide to good practice; dialogue with digital platforms and the insurance industry; involvement of the EU institutions (DG MOVE, DG HOME) and EUROPOL; promoting detailed national statistics on cargo theft.
In this context, USER invites members to submit to the Secretariat recent relevant cases, national materials and guidelines, internal best practices and experiences on logistics fraud and fake carriers, information that will support the organisation's contribution to the European CLECAT guide and the representation of members' interests at EU level.
"Cargo theft is rapidly evolving into forms of organised, digital and cross-border crime, which require a coordinated European response. Through the active involvement of USER within CLECAT, this issue has been brought back to the European agenda, and the freight forwarding company sector in Romania is directly represented in defining solutions at EU level. Moreover, USER has also directly addressed the European Commission, as well as EUROPOL, to inform them of the concrete situation in Romania related to transport frauds. USER will continue to support these efforts in the interest of its members," says USER.
The National News Agency AGERPRES is a media partner of the SEEFF x FIATA REU 2026 European Congress.
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