Artificial intelligence is changing the tempo of cybersecurity, and the trucking industry is feeling the shift firsthand. What once took weeks of coding or investigation can now be done in hours. That acceleration cuts both ways. Fleets are using artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen defenses, but attackers are also weaponizing it to breach systems faster and more convincingly.
During McLeod Software’s cybersecurity panel at ATA MCE 2025, Roehl Transport CIO John Paape, ISAAC VP of IT and Security Joe Russo, and McLeod Software’s CIO Ben Barnes discussed how AI’s power and pace are reshaping the digital battlefield for fleets.
“AI adds another complexity from a security perspective for sure,” Paape said. “It’s moving so quickly, and people are really eager to use it because of the benefits.”
That speed, they agreed, is redefining both opportunity and risk. As fleets integrate AI into analytics, routing, and predictive maintenance, they must also adapt to defend against AI-driven attacks.
The Double-Edged Sword
Paape and Barnes called AI a “double-edged sword” for a reason. It’s becoming the most powerful ally and the most unpredictable adversary in cybersecurity.
“Cybersecurity vendors have leaned into it for better analysis,” Barnes said. “But the criminals have also used it.”
According to Paape, IBM’s most recent threat report found that 16% of all cyberattacks last year were AI-driven. That number, he said, will rise dramatically as generative tools become easier to deploy. Attackers use AI to automate phishing, refine malware, and adapt attacks in real time. Meanwhile, fleets are leveraging AI to parse massive data flows, spot anomalies, and respond more quickly to incidents.
“We’ve implemented several AI tools just so we can respond in pace with the complexity and speed of attacks,” Paape said. “AI is helping us keep up, but it’s also forcing us to think differently about our security posture.”
It was clear that fleets can’t afford to treat AI as an afterthought. The technology has become both shield and sword.
Securing the Model, Not Just the Network
As fleets adopt AI-based tools, new vulnerabilities emerge in places traditional cybersecurity frameworks weren’t designed to cover. The risk is in the network, the data and the algorithms themselves.
“Are those models secured? Who has access? How are you authenticating into those models? How are you protecting your data?” Paape asked. “It’s important that we all keep that in the front of our mind when we’re evaluating technology.”
Russo added that fleets must vet AI vendors as rigorously as they do other technology providers. Unlike other industries with established data standards—HIPAA for healthcare, PCI-DSS for retail—trucking lacks a unified framework for AI security.
“That’s one piece that’s missing in this sector,” Russo said. “We need a common language—a standard set of frameworks that everyone should adhere to—so that you can vet your vendors and confirm that what they’re selling you is actually secure.”
Until that standard exists, Russo said, fleets must create their own AI governance policies: classifying vendors, setting access rules, and reviewing AI models for bias or manipulation. In this new environment, security must extend to the algorithmic level.
New Fronts in Social Engineering
Beyond code and servers, AI is redefining the human side of cybersecurity. Attackers are now using deepfake voice and video technologies to create social engineering campaigns that feel authentic.
Paape described a case study that shows how convincing these attacks have become. “They’re making a call from a high-ranking person in the organization,” he said. “Now there’s trust established—and then they send the email. That’s the attacker.”
By mimicking an executive’s voice, attackers can prompt employees to open attachments or transfer funds under false pretenses. Barnes warned that collaboration platforms such as Teams and Zoom are becoming new attack surfaces: “I’ve seen examples of a whole meeting that took place with three or four people on a Teams call, and only one of them was real.”
Russo urged fleets to integrate AI-enabled deception scenarios into their business continuity testing. Tabletop exercises, he said, can train employees to recognize subtle behavioral cues—like an unusual tone, timing, or request—that reveal something isn’t right.
AI as an Ally
Despite the risks, fleets are already benefiting from AI’s efficiency in cybersecurity. Russo said AI can automate penetration testing, scanning for vulnerabilities faster and more thoroughly than manual testing ever could. That speed helps IT teams catch and fix issues before attackers do. But Russo cautioned that AI’s power demands precision.
“AI’s purpose is to make you happy,” he said. “Whatever question you ask, its first goal is to please you. So you need to be specific in what you ask—and how you ask it.”
Paape agreed, adding that employee awareness remains key. Fleets that have built a culture of cybersecurity training can easily add AI-focused education—teaching staff how these tools work, and how attackers may use them.
Intelligence with Intent
The panelists agreed: AI isn’t a security solution in itself—it’s an amplifier. It enhances whatever foundation fleets already have, for better or worse. That makes leadership and intent the deciding factors in whether AI becomes a safeguard or a new source of exposure.
“Make it a point to meet regularly with your IT security team,” Paape advised. “Ask them what keeps them up at night—and make sure your backups and data protection are ready for whatever comes next.”
AI will continue to reshape trucking’s digital landscape. The fleets that succeed will be those that use it deliberately, define clear security frameworks, and never forget that trust between people, systems, and data is still the strongest line of defense.
