Matson Adds New Cargo Security Measures as Thefts Continue to Surge

Ocean carrier partners with BNSF Railway to enhance protection for international intermodal shipments.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:38am

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Matson, a major ocean carrier, has announced a new partnership with BNSF Railway to introduce enhanced cargo security measures for international containers moving through the U.S. The measures include attaching security devices from cargo security firm War-Lok to every container, as well as positioning Matson containers in the lower wells of intermodal rail cars for added protection. This comes as cargo theft incidents have continued to rise, with a 60% surge in estimated losses totaling nearly $725 million in 2025.

Why it matters

Cargo theft remains a significant problem for the logistics industry, with thieves targeting high-value goods like consumer electronics and food/beverage products. These new security measures from Matson and BNSF aim to mitigate the risk of theft and protect customer cargo throughout the inland transportation journey.

The details

Matson will attach security devices made by cargo security firm War-Lok to every international container moving from Los Angeles to all BNSF network destinations, including Chicago, Memphis and Dallas. BNSF has also agreed to position Matson containers in the lower wells of international intermodal rail cars for all cargo moving between Los Angeles and Chicago, and between the Chicago gateway and East Coast destinations.

  • In an analysis released in January, analytics company Verisk found that confirmed cargo theft incidents had increased by 18% year-over-year in 2025.

The players

Matson

A major ocean carrier that has announced a new partnership with BNSF Railway to enhance cargo security measures.

BNSF Railway

A railway company that has agreed to partner with Matson on new security initiatives, including positioning Matson containers in the lower wells of intermodal rail cars.

War-Lok

A cargo security firm whose devices will be attached to every Matson international container moving through the BNSF network.

Verisk

An analytics company that released a report in January 2026 finding a 18% year-over-year increase in confirmed cargo theft incidents in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“While no security system can eliminate all risk, these added measures significantly reduce exposure to theft and reinforce Matson's commitment to protecting customer cargo throughout the inland journey.”

— John Lauer, Chief Commercial Officer, Matson

What’s next

Matson and BNSF will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the new security measures and may explore additional enhancements in the future to further protect cargo moving through their networks.

The takeaway

The surge in cargo theft incidents across the logistics industry has prompted leading companies like Matson to invest in innovative security solutions. By partnering with rail providers and leveraging the latest cargo tracking technologies, Matson is demonstrating a proactive approach to safeguarding customer shipments and mitigating the financial and reputational risks associated with theft.