05/15/2026
The Supreme Court just handed down a big win for road safety!
In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, a unanimous court held brokers that hire dangerous trucking carriers are liable when those carriers cause harm. The decision is particularly significant because unanimous rulings from the Supreme Court are relatively rare, underscoring the broad agreement on the importance of broker accountability and public safety.
Many of the major brokers argued that a federal law, the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (FAAAA), prevented these lawsuits. The Court disagreed. Under a safety exception in that law, the Court held that states have the right to hold negligent companies accountable for hiring unsafe trucking companies.
Why does this matter? When brokerage companies know they can be held responsible for the carriers they hire, they have a real reason to choose safe ones. This ruling keeps that accountability intact. Better vetting will lead to fewer unsafe trucking companies getting loads and driving on our roads.
The Institute for Safer Trucking and Road Safe America are proud to have submitted a brief in support of the families who were harmed because brokers selected unsafe carriers. We will keep advocating wherever we can to hold the entire supply chain responsible for safety.
