With the rise of cargo theft incidents, carriers need a toolbox of varied solutions to both prevent incidents before they occur and to address problems afterward.  

In 2024, incidents of cargo theft were up 27% year over year, reaching historic highs exceeding $1 billion, according to a July 16 testimony from David Glawe, president and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Glawe said that figure is set to rise another 22% in 2025 while “other estimates suggest that cargo losses may reach up to $35 billion annually.”

The rise of cargo theft has been a focus of the trucking sector, drawing attention through industry warnings and reports, congressional hearings and carrier interventions. One tool carriers are increasingly highlighting to combat cargo theft is artificial intelligence.

For example, Landstar System said in a May earnings call it was investing significantly in technology and AI and stressed how ongoing vigilance is needed.

“It’s playing a pretty hefty role,” said Werner Enterprises SVP of Logistics Jordan Strawn during an Aug. 28 webinar.

For Werner, technology and AI investment are nothing new. Besides using tech to combat cargo theft, Werner is also focusing on technological advances to fuel its logistics growth,, including through its branded EDGE TMS.

The company is also scaling the use of conversational AI calling and notifications for reminders and communication with new hires, associates and brokerage carriers, CEO Derek Leathers said in a Q2 earnings call.

Leveraging AI before theft happens

Werner conducts a carrier vetting process that is extensive when deciding to do business and “we’re leveraging AI to understand who it is we’re working with,” Strawn said.

Being able to know who you’re working with before accepting business can help lower the risk of cargo theft. Data is consumed during the vetting process, after which AI is leveraged to understand what the information means and if it makes sense for Werner to move a load.

One strategy the company employs is to analyze what a carrier does within Werner’s network.

“If they’re moving a load from Dallas, I think we typically see them in the Southeast, and the furthest they stretch out is maybe out of the Southwest,” Strawn said. Then, if that same customer wants a load that’s coming from the Northeast going to the West Coast, Werner leverages AI to consume and aggregate the information so it can make an informed decision about whether to take on the load

Leveraging tech after theft happens

“There’s a really cool tech out there right now that helps us on the backside if equipment gets stolen, or if a load gets stolen, that’s on our third-party carrier,” Strawn said.

The tech Strawn is referring to leverages computer imagery. The third-party carrier has placed cameras all over major corridors throughout the United States, specifically focusing on areas where it expects to take in the most useful information.

Through those cameras, Werner can see snapshots of commercial vehicles to identify information such as MC, DOT, truck, trailer and tag numbers. When a load comes up missing, Werner can go to the database created by the system and enter details obtained from a shipper or surveillance. 

“It’s been extremely successful. We’ve actually been able to locate and send authorities to go and stop these trucks while they’re in motion, because we followed them where they’re going,” Strawn said.

Other carriers Werner works with are becoming more open to technology, such as electronic logging device integrations.

In the past, Werner found carriers frequently unwilling to share information, but the Omaha, Nebraska-based business is leveraging ELD integrations in its TMS platform to identify where a truck is and when it arrives to its destination. This provides Werner access to data confirming a trucking is moving along a route appropriately while allowing it to safeguard against sharing information that should remain in-house, Strawn said. 

In the escalating U.S.-China tech rivalry, President Trump’s stringent bans on exporting advanced AI chips have unexpectedly ignited a surge in China’s domestic semiconductor and technology sectors. Despite persistent economic headwinds like a protracted property crisis and ongoing trade tensions, Chinese tech stocks have experienced a remarkable rally throughout 2025. The Hang Seng Tech Index, a key barometer for the sector, has climbed more than 60%, outpacing many global benchmarks and drawing intense scrutiny from investors and analysts alike.

This boom stems directly from Trump’s policies aimed at curbing China’s access to cutting-edge U.S. technology, particularly chips from giants like Nvidia. By restricting exports of high-performance AI accelerators, the administration sought to hinder Beijing’s artificial intelligence ambitions. Instead, these measures have accelerated China’s push for self-reliance, funneling billions into homegrown alternatives and boosting companies such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. and Huawei Technologies Co.

Policy Repercussions and Market Dynamics

Critics argue that Trump’s approach, while intended to protect American dominance, has backfired by supercharging China’s innovation ecosystem. For instance, domestic chipmakers have ramped up production of alternatives to banned U.S. products, leading to skyrocketing valuations. Shares in firms like Cambricon Technologies, often dubbed China’s Nvidia equivalent, have quintupled in the past year, according to market data cited in reports from Yahoo Finance. This fervor has not only attracted domestic investment but also lured foreign hedge funds betting on Beijing’s resilience.

However, the rapid ascent has sparked warnings of overheating. Analysts at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan have projected further gains—up to 35% for certain indices by 2026—but caution against bubble risks, echoing sentiments from Business Insider, which highlighted concerns over inflated valuations amid China’s broader economic slowdown. The rally’s intensity recalls past market manias, where policy-driven booms preceded sharp corrections.

Shifting Strategies in U.S.-China Tech Trade

Trump’s administration has shown signs of tactical flexibility, with reports of negotiations allowing limited sales of downgraded Nvidia chips to China. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang noted in August that discussions with the White House for exporting a less advanced version of its next-gen GPU could take time, as detailed in coverage from Reuters. This comes after an unusual deal where the U.S. government would take a 15% cut of revenues from such sales, a move criticized in The New York Times as a short-term profit grab that risks eroding America’s long-term AI edge.

Senate Democrats have urged Trump to reconsider, warning in an open letter that easing restrictions could empower China’s tech sector further, per CNBC. Meanwhile, sentiment on platforms like X reflects investor frustration and irony, with users noting how bans intended to stifle China have instead propelled its chip industry forward, though such posts underscore speculative hype rather than hard evidence.

Investor Sentiment and Future Risks

The overheating debate has intensified as Chinese tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent ride the wave, with their stocks surging alongside semiconductor plays. Yet, regulatory pressures in China, including mandates for tech firms to prioritize domestic chips over foreign ones like Nvidia’s H20, signal potential volatility. As reported in The Times of India, Beijing is actively discouraging imports, favoring local options to build independence.

For industry insiders, this dynamic presents a double-edged sword: opportunities in undervalued Chinese assets amid the rally, but heightened risks from geopolitical escalations or economic downturns. Trump’s policies have undeniably reshaped global supply chains, forcing companies worldwide to navigate a fragmented tech environment. As 2025 progresses, the sustainability of this boom will hinge on whether China’s domestic innovations can match U.S. prowess without overheating into a bust.

Broader Implications for Global Tech Competition

Looking ahead, the U.S. exemption of certain chipmakers from tariffs—provided they commit to domestic manufacturing—has buoyed stocks like Nvidia’s, as noted in Yahoo Finance. This carrot-and-stick approach aims to repatriate production, but critics in The Washington Post decry it as a historic blunder, potentially handing China the tools to close the AI gap.

Ultimately, the chip ban’s unintended consequences highlight the complexities of tech nationalism. While boosting short-term gains in China’s markets, it underscores the need for balanced strategies that foster innovation without isolating key players. As tensions persist, stakeholders must weigh the allure of rapid growth against the perils of overvaluation in this high-stakes arena.