ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Will cybersecurity become the next big issue for the trucking industry?
In its latest report, the National Motor Traffic Freight Association (NMFTA) says the answer is a resounding yes.
NMFTA published its 2025 Trucking Cybersecurity Trends Report, citing that cybersecurity is poised to become one of the most pressing challenges that fleets will face in the new year.
In a release highlighting the report, NMFTA says the report provides industry professionals with knowledge on critical trends that will define trucking cybersecurity and predictions from analyst firms Forrester and Gartner are included.
Those top trends include:
· Delayed phishing, traditional and artificial intelligence (AI) enhanced phishing;
· Impacts from AI and machine learning (ML);
· An increase in Zero-Trust architecture adoption;
· Cyber-enabled cargo theft; and
· Threats to assets and internet of things (IoT).
NMFTA says 2025 will see significant increases in the efficiency and accuracy of phishing attempts, making traditional detection methods less effective. AI tools and the advancements expected in 2025 will act as force multipliers for threat actors as they craft increasingly sophisticated and believable phishing campaigns.
In addition to traditional phishing techniques used to deliver malicious content, next year will also see increased utilization of advanced evasive techniques such as delayed phishing to avoid detection by even the most advanced secure email gateways (SEGs) and other email security tools. As a result, the trucking industry will be required to focus on improved detection and response tools and cybersecurity training for employees.
“No one can deny that as technology becomes more enhanced and robust, the landscape of the industry is shifting in ways that demand immediate attention,” said Joe Ohr, chief operating officer for NMFTA.
Artie Crawford, director of cybersecurity for NMFTA agrees.
“Known threat actors are becoming more adept at exploiting vulnerabilities faster and more intelligently than ever before, which has empowered cybercriminals with the opportunity to leverage advanced tools that make phishing, malware creation, and impersonation scams harder to detect and prevent,” Crawford said.
NMFTA concluded that last month, Land Line Media reported that organized crime groups were the primary drivers of increased cargo theft, according to cargo theft prevention and recovery network CargoNet. The company confirmed that 776 thefts occurred in the third quarter this year, an increase of 14% compared to the same time in 2023. In all, the total value of stolen freight exceeded $39 million.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
