The Supreme Court has issued a unanimous decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, ruling that federal law does not block injured drivers from suing freight brokers who negligently hire unsafe trucking companies.
Shawn Montgomery, a truck driver, lost part of his leg after his parked tractor-trailer was struck by another vehicle on an Illinois road. The driver responsible for the collision, Yosniel Varela-Mojena, was hauling plastic pots for Caribe Transport, with C.H. Robinson Worldwide coordinating the shipment.
Montgomery alleged that C.H. Robinson negligently hired both the driver and carrier despite safety concerns, including issues with driver qualifications, hours of service, inspections, repairs, maintenance, and crash rates. C.H. Robinson argued that federal law preempted state-law claims, but the Seventh Circuit had previously dismissed the case.
In a unanimous ruling authored by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision. The Court held that states retain authority to regulate motor vehicle safety, and negligent-hiring claims fall within this retained power. This means freight brokers cannot use federal preemption to avoid liability for such cases.
A concurrence by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by Justice Samuel Alito, clarified that the ruling does not automatically make freight brokers liable in every truck accident. The justices emphasized that the decision only allows injured drivers to sue under state law and does not create a blanket liability for brokers.
The ruling has significant implications for the trucking industry. C.H. Robinson, the nation’s largest freight broker by volume, now faces greater scrutiny over safety practices when selecting carriers. Brokers must now ensure they vet carriers’ safety records before contracting them, particularly for hazardous materials shipments.
The decision coincides with recent federal actions to enhance commercial trucking safety, including Department of Transportation rules targeting unqualified foreign drivers and enforcing English-language proficiency requirements for commercial motor vehicle operators.
While the ruling does not resolve Montgomery’s lawsuit—C.H. Robinson is contesting the merits of his claims—it establishes that freight brokers cannot rely on federal preemption to avoid liability in negligent-hiring cases. As a result, safety vetting has become a legal obligation with concrete consequences for freight brokers.