Total Quality Logistics (TQL)

In February 2020, freight brokerage **Total Quality Logistics (TQL)**, headquartered in Cincinnati, USA, experienced a cyber breach where hackers compromised its IT systems. The incident exposed sensitive information of approximately **85,000 carriers**, including **tax ID numbers and bank account details**. The breach led to a **lawsuit from carriers**, alleging the company’s negligence in securing their data. TQL clarified that the attack **did not involve ransomware or malware**, and its IT security teams **detected and contained the breach swiftly** to prevent further exposure. Despite the quick response, the leak of **financial and identification data** posed significant risks, including potential fraud and financial losses for the affected carriers. The company faced reputational damage and legal consequences due to the failure to prevent unauthorized access to critical carrier information.

Source: https://www.tql.com/carrierhotline

TPRM report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/total-quality-logistics

"id": "tot532092125",
"linkid": "total-quality-logistics",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "2/2020",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"

{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': '85,000 carriers',
                        'industry': 'Logistics/Transportation',
                        'location': 'Cincinnati, USA',
                        'name': 'Total Quality Logistics (TQL)',
                        'type': 'Freight Brokerage'}],
 'data_breach': {'data_exfiltration': 'Likely (sensitive data compromised)',
                 'number_of_records_exposed': '85,000',
                 'personally_identifiable_information': 'Yes (tax IDs)',
                 'sensitivity_of_data': 'High (financial and identification '
                                        'data)',
                 'type_of_data_compromised': ['tax ID numbers',
                                              'bank account numbers']},
 'date_detected': 'February 2020',
 'description': 'In February 2020, freight brokerage Total Quality Logistics '
                '(TQL), based in Cincinnati, USA, had hackers breach their IT '
                'systems, compromising sensitive information of possibly '
                '85,000 carriers, including tax ID numbers and bank account '
                "numbers. This led to a carrier lawsuit alleging the company's "
                'negligence in the hacking incident. The company stated that '
                'the attack did not involve ransomware or malware, and its IT '
                'security teams identified and countered the issue quickly to '
                'secure all online information.',
 'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Negative (lawsuit alleging negligence)',
            'customer_complaints': 'Lawsuit filed by carriers',
            'data_compromised': ['tax ID numbers', 'bank account numbers'],
            'identity_theft_risk': 'High (sensitive financial data exposed)',
            'legal_liabilities': 'Carrier lawsuit',
            'payment_information_risk': 'High (bank account numbers '
                                        'compromised)'},
 'ransomware': {'data_encryption': 'No (company stated no ransomware or '
                                   'malware involved)'},
 'regulatory_compliance': {'legal_actions': 'Carrier lawsuit'},
 'response': {'containment_measures': 'Secured all online information',
              'incident_response_plan_activated': 'Yes (IT security teams '
                                                  'responded quickly)'},
 'title': 'Total Quality Logistics (TQL) Data Breach (2020)',
 'type': 'Data Breach'}