Wabash introduces connected cargo assurance system to combat trailer theft

Wabash has debuted a next-generation cargo assurance solution that combines a digitally connected cargo door and intelligent locking system with the company’s TrailerHawk.AI platform to improve trailer security and reduce cargo theft.

Cargo theft remains a growing concern across the supply chain. According to research from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released in October 2025, cargo theft costs the industry up to $6.6 billion annually. Wabash said its approach is designed to move fleets from loss response toward prevention by providing verified access, exception alerts, and a continuous chain-of-custody record throughout a load’s journey.

The system links physical access control at the trailer door with real-time visibility and automated alerts, giving shippers, carriers, and third-party logistics providers earlier insight into potential security issues.

“The industry can no longer afford to rely on disconnected cargo security tools that lack true access control and don’t verify who is touching the freight,” said Brett Suma, managing director at Wabash, explaining how the new solution makes the trailer itself part of a secure, connected system that helps prevent theft.

Traditional tools such as disposable seals and basic tracking devices offer limited protection and do not control who physically accesses freight. Wabash’s solution integrates a purpose-built cargo door and intelligent lock with TrailerHawk.AI, enabling encrypted communication, in-transit monitoring, and proactive intervention when unauthorized access or irregular activity is detected.

The system is also intended to address organized or “strategic” cargo theft, where legitimate drivers may be unknowingly involved due to gaps in information at handoffs. By validating driver identity and carrier relationships and linking those checks to the cargo door, fleets can reduce uncertainty during transfers and strengthen control over freight while it is in transit.

TrailerHawk.AI’s digital assurance and chain-of-custody workflows are already in use by carriers through a mobile application for inspections, verification, and asset visibility. Wabash said the cargo assurance solution will first launch as a retrofit option for TaaS Pools in 2026, and then will become available on new Wabash trailers or as a retrofit option in 2027.