This profile series spotlightsthe members of Ӱɴý'sLaw Enforcement Advisory Board(LEAB), which works tostrengthen the ties between the trucking industry and law enforcement community. LEABis comprised of Ӱɴý members who have previous experience in federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as current and retired law enforcement officials who havecontributed positively to the partnership between both groups.
Few people bring as much law enforcement experience to the trucking industry as John Cannon. Today, Cannon serves as a law enforcement Liaison at Overhaul and is a valued member of Ӱɴý’s Law Enforcement Advisory Board, but his journey was forged over four decades in criminal investigations, drug enforcement, and cargo theft prevention.
Cannon’s career began in 1976 with a local police department in Georgia. After seven years, he joined the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) in 1983, where he spent the next 36 years on some of the state’s most pressing cases. His work ranged from violent crime to narcotics enforcement, but his most enduring impact came when GBI created the Major Theft Unit in 2008.
“They asked me to help build it from scratch,” Cannon recalls. “We were tasked with investigating cargo theft across the state, and over time we built a strong program that really lowered cargo theft in Georgia.”
Fighting Sophisticated Criminals
During his years leading the unit, Cannon saw firsthand how devastating cargo theft could be, not only for trucking companies, but for communities as well. One case remains especially vivid: a nearly $10 million pharmaceutical theft involving millions of hydrocodone pills. His team tracked down the perpetrators and recovered the stolen load, preventing the drugs from being sold illegally.
“That was one of the highlights of my career,” Cannon says. “We not only got the bad guys, but we kept eight million hydrocodone pills out of circulation.”
As cargo theft grew more sophisticated, Cannon also witnessed the evolution of investigative tools and technology. “Today we can monitor shipments more closely and respond quickly if something goes wrong,” he explains. “But criminals are using technology too. They’re creating fraudulent carriers, falsifying paperwork, and diverting loads digitally. It’s a constant battle to stay ahead.”
Connecting Trucking and Law Enforcement
When Cannon retired from GBI in 2019, he wasn’t planning on a second career. But just months later, he received a call from Ron Greene, the executive vice president of risk, intelligence, and response at Overhaul. The company was building out its security and law enforcement liaison functions and saw Cannon’s experience and relationships as invaluable.
“Ron asked if I’d be interested, and within a couple months I was on board,” Cannon says. “It was during the height of COVID, so it was an unusual time to make the move, but it turned out to be a great decision.”
Today, Cannon and his colleague, retired Kentucky State Police officer Bobby Motley, handle Overhaul’s law enforcement engagement across the U.S. and Canada. Their role is equal parts problem-solver, connector, and advocate, working directly with customers and law enforcement to recover stolen cargo and prevent future incidents.
“The most important thing is relationships,” Cannon emphasizes. “If you have the right contacts and the right information ready to go, law enforcement can act fast. That can be the difference between losing a shipment or getting it back.”
Those relationships, along with his perspective, are also what Cannon brings to Ӱɴý’s Law Enforcement Advisory Board. For him, the board is not just a forum to share his knowledge, but a chance to learn from others.
“I enjoy listening to the other members and hearing their perspectives on safety and security,” Cannon says. “Hopefully I’ve been able to pass along some of what I’ve learned in the cargo theft world, but I’ve also learned a lot from the group.”
Reflecting and Looking Ahead
Cannon’s career has spanned nearly every aspect of policing — from walking a beat to investigating homicides to drafting legislation. He also played a key role in creating Georgia’s cargo theft statute, working with then-State Representative and former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan to get it passed. It remains one of the few state-level statutes of its kind.
Despite his many accomplishments, Cannon remains grounded in what motivates him. “I enjoy my job. I enjoy recovering cargo. I enjoy putting bad guys in jail and assisting law enforcement to do the same,” he says.
As cargo theft continues to rise nationwide, particularly with the surge in organized fraud schemes, Cannon’s perspective is more valuable than ever. His decades of public service, combined with his current work at Overhaul, provide a bridge between the trucking industry and law enforcement at a time when strong partnerships are critical.
Looking back, Cannon says he never imagined how his career would unfold or that it would lead him to trucking. But he sees a clear through-line in everything he’s done. “From the very beginning, I wanted to protect people and communities,” he reflects. “Today, that means protecting the supply chain and helping the trucking industry keep America moving.”