Class I freight rail · Memphis, TN

80% drop in cargo theft in Memphis. HTS shipped 30 Verkada cameras as part of the program.

In February 2026, CSX published the result of a multi-year Memphis task force: a more than 80% year-over-year drop in cargo theft incidents. HTS contributed the Verkada camera deployment around Leewood Yard, alongside enhanced fencing, lighting, and access controls.

Scale: 30 Verkada cameras · Memphis rail corridor · published Feb 25, 2026

The shape of the engagement

This case study is built on the public CSX press release. HTS deployed the surveillance-camera portion of the program; CSX led the operational and policy work.

Industry

Class I freight rail

Site

Memphis, TN (Leewood Yard)

Result

>80% YoY reduction in cargo theft

HTS contribution

30 Verkada cameras deployed

What we walked into

CSX identified a sharp increase in cargo theft in the Memphis area during the COVID-era surge. The rise posed a growing concern for customer shipments, employee safety, and the surrounding community.

A particular risk: trains stopping for extended periods at Leewood Yard in Memphis, where cargo was vulnerable to theft. The problem needed a focused, localized response — not a network-wide policy memo.

What we did

CSX formed a multi-group task force in 2024, bringing together local law enforcement, CSX operational teams, and HTS. Drew Sutter, CSX's assistant general counsel, framed the work: "Cargo theft is both a security issue and a policy issue. On the ground, it requires tactical solutions."

The security perimeter around CSX's Memphis facilities was upgraded with enhanced fencing, lighting, and access controls — roughly 14,000 feet of high-security fencing, with an additional 5,000 feet east of Leewood Yard. HTS deployed 30 Verkada cameras to support real-time monitoring and investigations.

Operationally, CSX introduced two direct trains running from Leewood Yard in Memphis to Fairburn, Georgia, and coordinated arrival and departure windows to limit exposure when trains entered and exited facilities.

What changed

The result, per the CSX press release:

>80% reduction in cargo theft YoY

Year-over-year, cargo-theft incidents in the Memphis rail corridor dropped by more than 80% following the task force's changes. Sean Douris, CSX Chief of Police, Public Safety, and Infrastructure Protection, attributed the result directly to the combined operational and security changes.

Trains keep moving through high-risk areas

By introducing two direct trains to Fairburn, Georgia and tightening arrival/departure windows, CSX reduced the dwell time in the highest-risk zones — cutting the window of opportunity for theft in the first place.

A blueprint for the rest of the network

Per Douris: "As we see incidents like this start to develop into trends, we'll be able to apply this template going forward. The goal is to address these problems early, before they reach a larger scale."

Source: CSX public press release, "CSX Task Force Cuts Cargo Theft by More Than 80% in Memphis," published February 25, 2026. Available at csx.com. The press release is the source for the >80% reduction figure, the 14,000 ft + 5,000 ft of fencing, the two direct trains to Fairburn, GA, and the quotes from Drew Sutter and Sean Douris. HTS's contribution — the 30 Verkada cameras — is per HTS records.

“Cargo theft is both a security issue and a policy issue. On the ground, it requires tactical solutions. Over the long term, it requires sustainable policies that address the broader impact on communities, employees and customers.”

— Drew Sutter, Assistant General Counsel, CSX

80% drop in cargo theft in Memphis. HTS shipped 30 Verkada cameras as part of the program.

The shape of the engagement

What we walked into

What we did

What changed

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