A Cybersecurity Story for the Transportation and 3PL Industry

The Wake-Up Call

It starts with a routine delivery and check-in call.

As the freight broker you receive an email from what looks like a regular carrier on a load you post. The subject line read: “Updated BOL/POD for Today’s Pickup.” Harmless enough. The dispatcher/ broker clicks the attachment.

Within hours, strange things began to happen. The dispatch system TMS starts glitching. Route confirmations go missing. Shipments are being rerouted—without permission.

The company has just become the latest victim in a highly coordinated cyberattack.

This is not fiction; this is almost routine. It’s a stark reality for transportation and logistics providers worldwide.

Cybercriminals Have a Playbook—And It’s Called the Cyber Kill Chain

To truly defend against modern cyber threats, it helps to think like the enemy. Cybercriminals don’t just “hack in” out of nowhere. They follow a process. A method. A strategy.

That process is known as the Cyber Kill Chain—a seven-step model used by advanced threat actors to break into systems, maintain control, and achieve their goals. Let’s walk through it. And more importantly, show you how to stop them.

1. Reconnaissance: They’re Studying You

Before attackers even touch your systems, they’re gathering information—lots of it. They comb your website, scan your job listings, monitor your vendors, and even track your social media. They’re learning everything they can about your team, routes, and systems.

In transportation, this might mean identifying:

• Your dispatch platform
• Fleet management software
• Customer portals or EDI systems

Your move:
Limit what’s public. Educate your team on phishing and fake requests and keep them up to date on the latest scam techniques. If they know how the game starts, they’re less likely to play it.

2. Weaponization: Building the Digital Bomb

Now that they know your systems, attackers create a tool just for you. Maybe it’s malware that mimics a freight invoice, bill of lading, or proof of delivery. Maybe it’s ransomware disguised as a shipping label.

Whatever the form, it’s tailored to your environment—your people, your platforms, your processes.

Your move:
Keep your systems patched. Scan all files and links, even those from trusted vendors. The best attack is the one that never lands.

3. Delivery: The Trojan Arrives

This is the moment the attacker drops the payload. It’s often something simple phishing email to your team or a vishing (like email phishing scams, but over the phone) call to your team.  Perhaps as innocuous as a USB stick left in the driver’s lounge that someone can easily plug into a computer, or a fake login screen on your load board.

And just like that, they are inside.

Your move:
Strengthen your frontline—email security, web filtering, and good old-fashioned skepticism. Train your team to think: “Could this be a trick?”

4. Exploitation: The Gate Opens

Now, the weapon is activated. Malware runs. A vulnerability is triggered. The attacker gets their first taste of access.

They’re in. According to cybersecurity firm Crowd Strike, a bad actor/attacker can gain complete control of your network in 48 minutes, with some examples taking as little as 51 seconds. It happens before you know it.

Your move:
Use intrusion detection tools. Apply the principle of least privilege—no one should have more access than they need. Lock the gates behind every door.

5. Installation: They Move Into Your Home

Attackers don’t just sneak in—they settle in. They install hidden software. Create admin accounts. Blend into your systems like they’ve always belonged there.

Your move:
Monitor your endpoints and systems for strange behavior. Review user accounts regularly. Think of your network like your house— you should know who’s coming and going at all times.

6. Command and Control: They Take the Wheel

With a foothold in your network, the attacker sets up a way to communicate. Through the creation of backdoors and other hidden access points, commands are sent. Data is stolen. Systems are manipulated.

In logistics, this might mean rerouting shipments, corrupting route data, or delaying dispatch schedules and so on.

Your move:
Watch your network traffic. Is there a system talking to places it shouldn’t? Use network segmentation to protect vital data points so one compromised system doesn’t take down your whole operation.

7. Actions on Objectives: The Endgame

This is what they came for.

They might steal your customer database. They might steal your customer shipments.  Deploy ransomware. Or quietly exfiltrate delivery manifests and pricing data to sell on the dark web.

Your shipments stop. Your phones stop ringing. Your company reputation takes a hit.

Your move:
Have a recovery plan. Back up everything. Lock down sensitive files with Data Loss Prevention tools. And practice breach scenarios before they become real.

Why This Story Matters to You

If you work in transportation, logistics, or 3PL, your systems are more connected—and therefore potentially more vulnerable—than ever. A single attack can breach customer contracts or grind your operation to a halt.

But There’s Good News

You don’t have to fight this alone. As bad actors and hackers have become more sophisticated, so have the tools made available to the 3PL industry. The first step is having a strong internal program of security and making sure to have checks in place, but partnering with a team that knows the business is where piece of mind. Finding a partner that understands the industry, the threats, and what is needed to protect your company means you’re ready whenever you come under attack.

Secure your business with expert cybersecurity and reliable Managed IT Support from Ergon Consulting Group.