Ransomware attack hits Orbcomm’s BT series of ELDs; paper logs are back

Freight Waves ^ | 9/14/23

[EBH]

Orbcomm, a major provider of ELDs to the trucking sector, is dealing with a ransomware attack that has limited the ability of its customers to use its Fleet Manager offering, which includes its Blue Tree ELD systems, the company has confirmed.

Resolving the issue may take up to two weeks.

(snip)

In a notice to Orbcomm customers Wednesday, supplied to FreightWaves by an Orbcomm customer, the company said under the heading “Rebuild and Restore” that it is “targeting to restore full use of our BT product line and the supporting platforms as well as RCOM Reports by September 28.”

The service interruption affected the BT product line, which is the core of Orbcomm’s ELD offering, as well as a reporting service known as RCOM Reports. Specifically, the outage impacts Blue Tree ELD models BT500 and BT504.

The notice said in conjunction with that date, users of the BT system have received an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to continue to use paper logs through Sept. 29, unless the BT system comes back online prior to that.

The FMCSA exemption allows the users of those ELD systems to continue using paper “graph grid” records or logging software until that date. The exemption could end earlier if the ransomware attack is thwarted and the systems come back online.

“Our internal and external teams will be working diligently on restoration over the coming weeks, and we know we will learn more as we bring certain systems and applications back online, but we wanted to share our target date with you,” the notice stated. “We will keep you updated on our progress against this goal.”

[fruser1]

Totalitarian systems like this are worth hacking without ransom.

[deks]

Electronic logging devices (ELDs) are intended to create a safer work environment for drivers of commercial motor vehicles, and make it easier and faster to accurately track, manage, and share data on driving and off-duty time.

https://eld.fmcsa.dot.gov/

[Zathras]

Sounds like they attacked the tracking system.
Someone went cheap on their system.
You don’t need to spend a fortune but you do need to cover the basics.