The Memphis World Trade Club (MWTC) hosted its January luncheon on Tuesday, January 21, at Windyke Country Club, featuring Michael Garriga, Executive Director of Government and Public Affairs for BNSF Railway, as the keynote speaker. Garriga addressed the growing issue of cargo theft and the legislative efforts aimed at curbing its prevalence.

During his presentation, Garriga highlighted a letter prepared by the Tennessee Railroad Association outlining alarming statistics on cargo theft and advocating for increased criminal penalties. The letter, which will be submitted to Tennessee lawmakers, calls for reclassifying cargo theft across all modes of transportation from a Class E felony to a Class D felony to deter organized crime and protect the state’s critical freight infrastructure.

Following the luncheon, the MWTC formally agreed to support these efforts and will be added as a signatory to the letter. MWTC President Dustin Crick emphasized the importance of addressing this growing threat, stating, “Cargo theft is a major issue in our industry, and we must do all that we can to slow its growth. Increasing the criminal penalties for incidents of cargo theft is not a fix-all, but it is a step in the right direction—one that will hopefully make an impact as we continue to work on other efforts as well.”

Cargo theft is surging across the country, with an 82% year-over-year increase in reported incidents nationwide and Tennessee ranking as the third highest state for cargo theft risk in 2023. Memphis, a key freight hub, now surpasses Chicago in rail freight thefts. As a state with extensive rail, highway, air, and intermodal infrastructure, Tennessee’s position as a logistics powerhouse also makes it a target for organized crime.

By joining forces with the Tennessee Railroad Association, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Tennessee Retail Association, the Tennessee Trucking Association, the Memphis Chamber, and major rail carriers—including BNSF, CN, CSX, and Norfolk Southern—the MWTC is committed to advocating for stronger deterrents against cargo theft and ensuring the protection of goods moving through the region.