The importance of cybersecurity for freight exchanges

To what extent is cybersecurity an issue for online freight exchanges like TIMOCOM?

Gunnar Gburek – Our customers usually trade in two valuable assets: freight and data. Studies show that transport and logistics are among the top three sectors targeted by cybercriminals. Therefore, cybersecurity is an extremely important issue for us, which we address proactively as part of our broader logistics cybersecurity approach.

At transport logistic 2025, Gunnar Gburek spoke with industry representatives about cybersecurity. Find out in our ThekenTalk videos how companies and insurers view the topic. 
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Which approaches do you observe most frequently?

A very common tactic is phishing, aimed at obtaining truckloads or company data. The fraudsters primarily target passwords for email accounts or access credentials for online freight exchanges like TIMOCOM. Fortunately, most customers remain very vigilant against such attempts despite the hectic nature of their daily work. However, people remain the greatest vulnerability when unauthorised individuals try to gain access to company data. Strong freight fraud prevention therefore depends on both technical safeguards and disciplined day-to-day behaviour.

In recent years, two types of cyberattacks have notably increased: phishing and targeted attacks on passwords. While 18% of surveyed companies reported suffering financial damage from such digital attacks in 2021, by 2023 this figure had risen to around 30%. This is shown by a survey conducted by the IT industry association Bitkom. In the case of freight exchanges, this type of transport cyber crime manifests itself, for example, through fake login websites, emails sent in the name of well-known companies, or phone calls requesting data under false identities. These are common cybersecurity risks in logistics and a direct challenge for freight platform security.

Has TIMOCOM itself had experience with such fraud schemes?

My colleagues from Legal, Data Protection, and Business Security regularly deal with such cases. We often learn about phishing attempts through tips from our customers or because we come across fake websites ourselves, which we then have blocked. The Customer Service team is also regularly in contact with our customers to discuss current fraud tactics and appropriate countermeasures. This topic is now an integral part of our daily work, as the fraudsters have become more digital and no longer just lurk at unsecured lorry parks at night to slash tarpaulins.

Which security measures does TIMOCOM rely on?

We have two approaches, a technical one and a communicative one. On the one hand, the colleagues, mainly from IT, ensure that our systems are protected as best as possible. Whether through appropriate database structures, firewalls, or antivirus programmes. In addition, we regularly train our employees in internal awareness programmes. Regarding data protection at TIMOCOM, my colleague Niko Härig has spoken extensively. 

We also offer various forms of support for our customers. First, we train customers and their employees in the safe use of online freight exchanges. This includes, among other things, understanding potential risks so they can identify and avoid them, as well as carefully checking business partners. Second, our Customer Monitoring relies on our customers’ cooperation. We therefore encourage them to report suspected cases early and share negative experiences with us. An overview of our efforts, along with practical checklists to download, are available on our security page

How can companies enhance their security on freight exchanges?

My most important tip would be to communicate via TIMOCOM Messenger and therefore within the freight exchange. This way, fraudsters cannot interfere from outside – for example via a spoofed email address – in the allocation of a freight order. You can also set up a closed freight exchange in which you offer your freight exclusively to existing and vetted business partners.

More control, less risk: with the Closed freight exchange on the TIMOCOM Road Freight Marketplace, you decide who sees your offers. 
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