Inside This Article:
- Cyberattacks that target logistics companies are expected to double in 2026 after rising nearly 1000% since 2021, according to research by Everstream Analytics.
- Hackers are increasingly targeting shared transportation networks rather than individual trucking companies, the new data indicates.
- When a logistics firm faces a cyber incident, Cyber & Privacy Liability Insurance policies can provide immediate data breach response services.
- Coverage can also extend to third-party liability, business interruption losses, and reputational damage.
Cyberattacks aimed at logistics firms are projected to double in 2026, according to new data from Everstream Analytics. The research found that cyberattacks tied to logistics rose 61% in 2025 — from 132 to 213 total incidents — and have increased by almost 1000% since 2021, as hackers shift from targeting individual companies to exploiting shared transportation networks, Logistics Management recently reported.
“It is not really surprising that this is going to be an industry that hackers are going after,” said Todd Carter, Broker, Professional Liability, Burns & Wilcox, Seattle, Washington. “Transportation systems are so interconnected to everything — in our day-to-day lives when we need products shipped to us or when companies are moving things across the country. It is the lifeblood of a lot of different types of businesses.”
The expanding reach of cyber incidents underscores the importance of risk management in the transportation industry, including Cyber & Privacy Liability Insurance to address the financial and operational consequences of a breach. Many transportation firms, however, may not fully grasp the threat, said Andra Scott, Manager, Transportation, Burns & Wilcox, Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The new data is alarming, especially with the number of cyberattacks expected to double,” Scott said. “A lot of individuals in transportation do not even realize the risk. When you start to look at how many individuals and systems are connected to one shipment, it is significant.”
The new data is alarming. … A lot of individuals in transportation do not even realize the risk.
Why logistics firms are prime targets
According to Everstream’s report, attackers are focusing more on shared digital infrastructure, as breaching one system can provide access to thousands of interconnected companies. “You can hit one company and get access to many,” Carter said.
In trucking, many operators rely on online load boards and third-party platforms to find freight, Scott said, creating numerous points of exposure.
“More often than not, the individual companies go to job boards to pick where their loads come from,” she said. “With all these trucking companies relying on the same third parties, it is no longer just one business that gets interrupted. A system breach can affect the shippers, the drivers — all of them.”
Cybercriminals can combine that access with social engineering tactics that exploit the rapid flow of invoices, schedules, and payment instructions, Carter said. This could include rerouting shipments — a method used in more sophisticated cargo thefts, which are a growing concern in the industry, Trucking Dive reported in November.
“They are looking at vulnerabilities — how easy something is to get into, how much data is there, how connected the company is, where money is moving around,” he said. “There are so many different ways that threat actors can get in.”
The potential widespread impact of a logistics cyber incident can be compared to the 2024 CrowdStrike software update failure — which, while not a cyberattack, grounded flights and disrupted computer systems worldwide, Carter said. “Cyberattacks can have that same type of impact,” he said. “Transportation systems are so interconnected to everything. One hack can have an impact on thousands of different companies.”
Transportation systems are so interconnected to everything. One hack can have an impact on thousands of different companies.
“Even the top of the top companies can get hacked,” Carter added, pointing to Cyber & Privacy Liability Insurance as a key protection for transportation networks and the businesses that rely on them. “The policy has first-party and third-party coverages, so it is designed to protect the company and also others who are impacted by that cyberattack,” he said.
Business interruption, reputational harm among financial impacts
In October 2023, U.S. freight shipping company Estes Express Lines suffered a ransomware attack that took down its phone and email systems and forced the company to temporarily divert freight to competitors, Trucking Dive reported. In 2017, a cyberattack on global logistics giant Maersk disrupted operations at shipping terminals around the world and cost the company an estimated $200 million to $300 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.
According to IBM’s 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the global average cost of a data breach is $4.4 million. Costs can include data breach investigations, ransomware payments, system recovery efforts, and loss of business income. In the transportation industry, cyberattacks can immediately disrupt operations, shut down networks, delay shipments, and halt revenue.
These expenses can be covered by Cyber & Privacy Liability Insurance, which can also cover costs related to reputational damage due to the attack, Carter said.
“If you shut down someone’s system that moves and ships product, they cannot do anything. They could be locked out for days,” he said. “At that point, business partners could say, ‘I am no longer doing business with you because you almost crippled my company, you cannot be trusted.’”
The policy can cover credit monitoring and other services for individuals whose data was exposed in a cyberattack, along with any financial losses they may incur due to the breach, Carter noted. Risk mitigation services to help prevent cyberattacks, along with security alerts when vulnerabilities pop up and security assessments of the company’s public domains, may also be available.
“It is really a unique type of insurance,” he said. “There are some unique coverages that respond in all kinds of different cyberattack situations.”
‘Time is of the essence’ in cyberattack response
When a company faces a cyberattack, Cyber & Privacy Liability Insurance policies are designed to respond immediately and can provide access to technical specialists, crisis management teams, and more.
“When you have a cyberattack, it is an emergency situation,” Carter said. “You need to jump on that immediately because time is of the essence. When you have a Cyber Insurance carrier that is protecting you, they are actively looking for vulnerabilities, they are available 24/7, and they are trained and experienced in handling cyberattacks.”
Trucking companies should know that cybercrime-related coverage is not included on standard Auto Insurance or Motor Carrier policies, Scott said. Understanding the importance of Cyber & Privacy Liability Insurance for this industry “starts with a really good agent,” she said.
“Working with someone who specializes in Transportation Insurance makes a big difference,” Scott said. “You need someone who is aware of the industry, its risks, and the different coverages that can protect your company.”
Working with someone who specializes in Transportation Insurance makes a big difference.
With cyberattacks against logistics companies expected to keep rising, companies should understand their vulnerabilities and ensure they are properly protected, Carter said. “Having Cyber coverage is just as important as insuring your building and your physical property. If your building is burning down, you are not calling your insurance company; you are calling the fire department. In this case, the Cyber Insurance carrier is your firefighter. That is your 911 call.”
The Cyber Insurance carrier is your firefighter. That is your 911 call.
