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(Photo: Jim Allen / FreightWaves)

OTR Solutions and LoadConnect unite against freight fraud through integrated credit approvals

OTR Solutions, a pioneer in logistics back-office technology and financial services, has forged a strategic partnership with LoadConnect, a cutting-edge platform specializing in automated freight dispatch. Announced recently, this collaboration embeds OTR’s robust credit intelligence directly into LoadConnect’s web-based load board extension, empowering carriers with real-time fraud detection and verification tools right at the point of booking. The integration promises to transform dispatch workflows, turning potential vulnerabilities into seamless safeguards and fostering greater transparency in an industry plagued by scams.

Freight fraud—encompassing double brokering, fictitious loads, and broker impersonation—has surged, costing carriers millions annually in lost revenue, chargebacks, and disputes. This partnership directly confronts these risks by leveraging OTR’s extensive broker network and rigorous credit vetting processes. As the sole provider of True Non-Recourse Factoring and its innovative Truly Instant Funding, OTR ensures carriers only engage with pre-vetted brokers, insulating them from payment defaults and financial pitfalls common with less reliable factoring options.

John Landrum, OTR’s Vice President of Marketing, emphasized the partnership’s proactive edge: “By combining OTR’s credit intelligence with LoadConnect’s platform, we’re turning what was once a back-office process into a real-time safeguard that lives inside the dispatch workflow—giving carriers transparency and trust where it matters most.” This fusion not only verifies broker credibility but also flags authentic contact details, preventing impersonation schemes that erode trust in load boards.

For carriers on LoadConnect, the benefits are immediate and multifaceted. They can now access OTR’s live broker credit data, confirm if loads qualify for instant factoring, and automate secure load management—all within a unified interface. This holistic approach extends beyond verification, streamlining operations from dispatch to delivery and minimizing disruptions.

Ronen Gilkarov, LoadConnect’s Chief Marketing Officer, highlighted the synergy: “This collaboration brings the best of both worlds to the carrier community—automated dispatch efficiency paired with financial verification and security.” Looking ahead, the duo plans deeper integrations, evolving the platform to meet emerging carrier needs and establishing a new benchmark for safety in freight tech.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Roswell, Georgia, OTR Solutions employs over 350 staff and serves U.S. carriers and brokerages with fintech-driven cash flow and support solutions. LoadConnect, launched in 2023, excels in intelligent automation, real-time communications, and safety checks for dispatchers.

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Freight Fraud Video of the Week 🤩

FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller appears on "Coffee and a Mike" to discuss cargo theft and the economy.

Sponsored by Descartes

Descartes’ Danielle Spinelli & Carrier Assure CEO, Cassandra Gaines, highlight the growing importance of balancing safety and fraud prevention with efficiency during this carrier vetting webinar.

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Virtually every U.S. payments company is cyber-attacked each year

(Photo: Jim Allen / FreightWaves)

This August 2025 PYMNTS Intelligence report, part of "The 2025 Certainty Project," analyzes the surge in social engineering cyberattacks targeting U.S. mid-market firms (revenues of $100M–$1B), with a survey of 60 payments heads revealing that 97% experienced at least one incident in the past year. Common tactics include fake invoice scams (47%), phishing impersonating vendors (42%), ransomware (25%), and urgent payment requests (25%), often exploiting third-party vendors as initial breach points—38% of invoice scams and 43% of phishing tied to compromised suppliers. These attacks prey on trust in supply chains, with 87% of firms expressing concern over payments vulnerabilities, particularly goods-focused businesses reliant on high-volume vendor interactions. Budgets for defenses average 1–2% of revenue, but smaller firms ($100M–$400M) allocate more (up to 3–5%) amid resource strains. The report urges updated anti-fraud strategies and third-party risk assessments to mitigate "unwitting accomplice" backdoors in interconnected ecosystems.

The article’s insights directly illuminate freight fraud and cargo theft risks in logistics-heavy mid-market operations, where cyber vulnerabilities amplify physical supply chain threats. Third-party vendor breaches enable sophisticated fraud like fake invoices or altered payment details, diverting funds from legitimate freight carriers and creating opportunities for "double brokering" scams—where fraudsters hijack shipments by impersonating brokers, leading to cargo diversion or abandonment. Ransomware disruptions, as seen in the Marks & Spencer case (causing £300M in losses from halted logistics), mirror real-world freight scenarios: delayed or rerouted cargo increases theft exposure, with hackers potentially using breached vendor systems to forge shipping docs or GPS spoofing for hijackings. Goods firms, 62% of which report high concern, face elevated risks due to invoice-heavy transactions, where phishing could trigger fraudulent claims or insider-enabled theft. Recommendations like carrier vetting and real-time fraud detection are critical for freight sectors to prevent cyber breaches from metastasizing into physical theft.