The North American transportation sector faces the most complex cyber threat environment ever, as cybercriminals continue to demonstrate greater sophistication and specialization.

“Bad actors now view the transportation supply chain not as a peripheral target, but as a mature, high-value target domain that is worth investing significant time, resources, and dedicated expertise due to the high potential reward for their efforts,” NMFTA said in its 2026 Cybersecurity Trends report. 

Groups that previously operated independently are forming specialized alliances, accelerating the pace and efficiency of cyberattacks. The most sophisticated of these crime syndicates operate as full-scale enterprises, complete with recruiting pipelines, training programs, and specialized departments.

The average time from initial access to a full-system cyberattack can now be just minutes. These attacks target employees, data, trading partners, cargo, and the intersections between these elements.

Highlights of NMFTA’s cybersecurity report

Social engineering remained the primary cause of security incidents, but the sophistication and speed of these campaigns increased dramatically.

Adversaries are exploiting the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, compromising a single vendor or platform and pivoting to multiple connected fleets, shippers, or brokers.

Bad actors are posing as IT help desk team members and persuading remote employees to install“ support software,” but it is actually a Remote Access Trojan (RAT).

They are also using AI-generated emails, deep-fake voice calls, and spoofed dispatch updates to misdirect shipments or extort payments through fraudulent detention or lumper fees.

Voice and video deepfakes and smishing (SMS-based phishing) attacks are beginning to expand.

There has been an increase in “one-day” attacks, which exploit newly disclosed but unpatched vulnerabilities.

More trucking fleets taking a proactive approach

In response to these threats, the most advanced carriers are deploying technology that can detect behavioral anomalies, such as unauthorized load cancellations or abnormal account login patterns. They are also updating training programs to teach employees to verify pickup authorizations, confirm payment instructions, and validate digital identities.

The report concluded that all trucking fleets must look at cybersecurity not just as an IT issue, but as a total operational challenge.”

It requires a complete integration — treating physical security, operational security, and cybersecurity as components of a single, holistic security strategy.

Proactive trucking fleets and logistics providers that invest in cybersecurity tools, social engineering awareness training, and phishing simulations are seeing measurable reductions in successful social-engineering incidents, NMTFA said.