As Americans gear up for fireworks and barbecues today, another group is making plans of a different kind: cargo thieves.

Every year, the days are Independence Day see a notable spike in criminal networks seizing shipments of everything from televisions to energy drinks to vital medical supplies, exploiting the disruptions and reduced oversight that come with the holiday rush.

It’s all part of a growing cargo theft epidemic. Once a sporadic nuisance, it has metastasized into a nationwide criminal enterprise that is bleeding the U.S. supply chain to the tune of more than $35 billion each year. And everyday Americans are the ones footing the bill.

These thieves aren’t just smashing locks in the dead of night. Sophisticated criminal rings are exploiting weaknesses in our digital infrastructure, using ever-evolving cyber fraud and identity theft to impersonate legitimate carriers and hijack loads without ever touching a crowbar — often rerouting freight before it even leaves the warehouse. Others target trucks and trailers at rest stops and distribution centers, threatening the personal safety of drivers who are simply doing their jobs.

The consequences ripple far beyond the loss of goods. Small trucking companies face higher insurance premiums or go out of business. Retailers, already navigating global supply chain headaches, must absorb delayed deliveries and inventory losses. Consumers see price hikes and empty shelves. And for drivers — often the last line of defense — the stress of constant vigilance becomes a daily burden.

Cyber-enabled “strategic........

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