The Trump administration's Department of Justice has taken a surprising position in a landmark Supreme Court case involving freight broker liability, backing major shipping companies over an injured trucker in a case that could reshape the American logistics industry.
The case, Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, centers on Shawn Montgomery, a truck driver who was severely injured in 2019 when his parked tractor-trailer was struck by another truck on an Illinois highway. The accident involved Yosniel Varela-Mojena, a driver employed by motor carrier Caribe Transport II. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, one of the nation's largest freight brokers, had arranged the shipment that put Caribe on the road that day.
Montgomery sued the driver, the carrier, and C.H. Robinson, accusing the broker of "negligent hiring" under Illinois common law. The case presents a critical question: whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (FAAAA) preempts state tort claims against brokers for their carrier selections. Section 14501(c)(1) of the FAAAA bars state actions "related to a price, route, or service" of brokers "with respect to the transportation of property."
The Trump DOJ's decision to file an amicus brief supporting C.H. Robinson carries significant political weight. In an administration often associated with populist rhetoric and support for working-class Americans, the Justice Department's backing of a corporate logistics giant over an injured trucker might seem counterintuitive to some observers.
In its brief, the U.S. government argues that subjecting brokers to state negligence lawsuits would disrupt the federal regulatory framework. Brokers are already required to select motor carriers authorized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which means those carriers have met federal safety standards. The DOJ contends that allowing such litigation would compel brokers to "second-guess federal registration decisions and independently evaluate the safety history of the carriers they select."
A ruling against C.H. Robinson could fundamentally alter how freight brokers operate, potentially forcing them to favor larger carriers with more established safety records over smaller operators. This could reshape competition within the industry and increase costs throughout the supply chain.
Conversely, plaintiff advocates argue that federal preemption should not shield brokers from accountability when their carrier selections result in catastrophic harm. They contend that negligent hiring claims target broker decision-making, not the underlying transportation services themselves.
The dispute reflects broader tensions between federal preemption doctrine and state tort remedies, federalism questions that frequently divide the Court. With oral arguments complete, the trucking industry now awaits a decision that will determine whether thousands of freight brokers nationwide face expanded liability—or continued protection under federal law.
