Cargo theft poses a threat to the national economic well-being. The problem of cargo theft offers a multifaceted challenge because of evidentiary problems in the courts which make such theft and marketing of stolen property highly profitable and relatively risk-free. Federal efforts at curtailing cargo theft recently have been cut back, resulting in an increase in the responsibility of the private sector and local governments. Seminars, funded by the private industrial sector, have been conducted to train law enforcement and corporate personnel in methods of combating cargo theft. To establish a security program, a transportation security director should delineate security personnel's roles and responsibilities, develop a list of training needs, and outline a training program. Following development of a training curriculum, the director should review its quality and appropriateness and direct the training coordinator to implement the program. The director should establish relations with local law enforcement officers and prosecutors. In the transportation industry, as much as 80 to 85 percent of losses are employee related. Thus, a good crime prevention program directed at employees may be a more cost-effective means of halting cargo theft than programs aimed at swift investigation and conviction of responsible parties. Tables and photographs are included.