The Supreme Court has issued a unanimous ruling that freight brokers can now be held liable for hiring trucking companies that employ dangerous or foreign drivers if such drivers cause accidents. The decision, which overturns a lower court’s ruling in favor of C.H. Robinson—the nation’s largest freight broker by size—comes from a case involving Shawn Montgomery.
Montgomery lost part of his leg in a 2017 crash on an Illinois highway caused by a speeding semi-truck driver with a history of careless driving and previous crashes. His lawsuit alleged that C.H. Robinson should share liability for hiring the carrier despite “serious red flags,” including the driver’s citation for reckless driving months earlier and the carrier’s involvement in at least three crashes within five months.
In an opinion authored by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the Supreme Court ruled that Montgomery’s claims fall under an exception for safety regulations. The justices determined that federal law does not shield freight brokers from state negligence lawsuits. This ruling allows Montgomery to proceed with his lawsuit against C.H. Robinson, though the company has contested the case.
The Transportation Intermediaries Association, a trade group representing freight brokers, called the decision “deeply disappointing.” Its president and CEO, Chris Burroughs, compared the ruling to asking travel agents to evaluate airline safety despite federal oversight. Over 20 states supported Montgomery’s appeal, arguing that holding freight brokers accountable would enhance road safety in an industry responsible for moving billions of tons of goods annually.
The decision marks a significant shift in liability for freight brokers and is expected to encourage greater scrutiny of hiring practices within the trucking industry.
