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In my time serving the trucking industry, I've seen cybersecurity threats transform from minor nuisances to serious business risks. Today, I want to share a story that really affected me – the fall of a 95-year-old trucking company that had weathered economic downturns, regulatory changes, and market fluctuations only to be defeated by modern cybercrime.
When History Meets Hackers
It was 9:00 PM when we received the call. The panic in the caller's voice was unmistakable – they were already in crisis mode. A company with nearly a century of trucking heritage was facing a disaster unlike any they'd encountered before.
The attack had encrypted over 800 computers and 50 servers spread across 75 terminals nationwide. Their entire operation was paralyzed. Dispatch systems were offline. Maintenance records were inaccessible. Drivers couldn't access their electronic logs. The company's heartbeat – the technology that coordinated their fleet – had flatlined.
A Perfect Storm
What made this situation particularly devastating was that the attack hit when the company was already navigating financial challenges. They had minimal cybersecurity measures in place and poor backup protocols. Their infrastructure had been built over decades, with legacy systems patched together with newer technology – creating a mixture of vulnerabilities that hackers easily exploited.
With their core systems completely locked and only minimal backups available, they faced an impossible choice. Ultimately, they paid the $300,000 ransom in a desperate attempt to save their business.
Our team worked around the clock to restore their systems. We managed to get the main operations back online within a few weeks, and they were able to close out their business in the most respectable way possible under the circumstances. Sadly, the combination of the cyberattack and their existing financial pressures became the final blow to a company that had survived since the early 20th century. They were forced to permanently close their doors.
It Doesn't Have to End This Way
What saddens me about this story is how much better protected they could have been. In our work, we see patterns repeat across companies of all sizes:
Three Signs You Might Be Next
As ransomware continues to evolve, there are warning signs that your company could be vulnerable.
Warning Sign #1: Your IT Provider Focuses on Operations, Not Security
Having an IT provider isn't enough. In one case, we were called in after a trucking company was attacked. We discovered their previous IT provider had set them up in a multi-tenant environment without properly separating networks. When another company in that environment was attacked, criminals simply walked through the virtual wall into our now-client's network. The distinction between operational IT and specialized cybersecurity has never been more important.
Warning Sign #2: You're Not Monitoring Security Alerts
Another company reached out to us during an active attack. While investigating, we found their security notifications weren't configured properly, and alerts had been going to a folder that no one was checking. By the time they noticed something was wrong and called us, criminals had been in their system for months.
Warning Sign #3: You Haven't Tested Your Incident Response Plan
Many companies believe they're prepared until disaster strikes. One business called us in a panic during a ransomware attack. They thought they had backups, but when we asked for them, they discovered they didn't have the encryption key. What could have been a quick recovery turned into a months-long struggle.
The Road Forward

The transportation industry is the backbone of our economy, moving the goods that keep America running. Protecting this vital industry isn't just about safeguarding individual companies – it's about securing our national infrastructure.
As threat actors continue to evolve their tactics, the question isn't whether your company will be targeted, but whether you'll be prepared when it happens. Traditional security measures are no longer enough. Today's protection requires layered defense, continuous monitoring, and a proactive approach to emerging threats.
The 95-year legacy of that trucking company deserved better. Your company's legacy deserves better too.
Ready to strengthen your company's protection against today's evolving threats? Let's chat about building resilience for your business! Schedule your cyber strategy session today and let’s talk about what it looks like to secure your fleet.