Cargo Theft Texas: Men Bought Trucking Companies to Steal Loads

What happened

Cargo theft with a real company name: that is what a federal jury in California just confirmed. Two men were found guilty in a case run by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. The news came out on Sept. 30, 2026.

From March 2024 to June 2025, the two men bought or misused real trucking companies. One was Z&F Transportation LLC, a carrier based in Texas. It was bought in March 2024 for about $22,000. Another, Skyways Trucking LLC, was bought in May 2024.

With those clean company names, they bid on loads through freight brokers, including Uber Freight. They picked up the cargo. Then they never delivered it. The loads came from warehouses in Southern California and in Grand Prairie, Texas, near Dallas-Fort Worth. They took TVs, laptops, appliances, solar panels, vacuums, LED lights, shoes and tires. Losses were at least $2 million.

One man was convicted of conspiracy to steal from interstate shipments and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces up to 20 years. The other was convicted of the theft conspiracy but cleared of wire fraud. He faces up to 5 years. Sentencing is set for Jan. 20, 2027.

What it means for owner-operators

This is a newer kind of cargo theft. The thieves did not fake a company. They bought a real one, with a real history, so brokers would trust them.

That matters to you in two ways. First, your company name and your USDOT number have value to criminals. If you ever sell your business, the buyer gets to use that name. Second, honest carriers pay the price when fraud grows. Brokers and shippers look harder at every carrier, and stolen loads push up the cost of cargo losses for the whole industry.

The good news: this case shows investigators can follow these schemes, even across states, and get convictions.

What to do next

• Thinking of selling your trucking company? Know exactly who is buying it. Use a written contract and keep copies of every paper you sign.
• Keep your FMCSA record current: address, phone, email and company officers. Your record should match who you really are when a broker checks you.
• Never accept a change of delivery address by text or email alone. Call the broker back on a number you already know.
• If a load you hauled goes missing, report it to police and your broker right away, and write down times and names.
• Read your cargo policy. Look at how it treats theft, and what exclusions it has. Our cargo insurance basics guide explains it in plain words.
• Learn the latest tricks in our cargo theft and fraud guide.

Questions about your cargo coverage? Call TCZ Insurance Agency at 956-526-6727.