MOST VISITED LINKS
In a rare unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark ruling today in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, holding that freight brokers and shippers are not immune from liability when they negligently hire unsafe motor carriers.
The Court’s 9-0 opinion is a major victory for public safety, responsible trucking companies, and the families who share America’s highways every day — including right here in Tennessee.
For years, freight brokers argued that federal law shielded them from state-law negligent hiring claims, even when they hired trucking companies with troubling safety histories. Today, the Supreme Court rejected that argument and made clear that safety still matters.
Here in Tennessee, this issue was already especially important because Tennessee falls within the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Fortunately for Tennessee motorists, the Sixth Circuit had previously ruled that negligent hiring claims against freight brokers were not preempted by federal law. In other words, the Sixth Circuit recognized that freight brokers could still be held accountable when they negligently hired dangerous trucking companies.
Other federal circuits disagreed. Most notably, the Seventh Circuit had ruled that these claims were preempted, meaning brokers could potentially avoid responsibility altogether.
The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision resolved that split and effectively overruled the Seventh Circuit’s approach, confirming that states may continue to hold freight brokers accountable for negligent hiring.
That is a tremendous result for public safety in Tennessee and across the country.
The case arose after Shawn Montgomery suffered catastrophic injuries in a trucking crash involving a motor carrier allegedly hired despite serious safety concerns. The legal issue before the Court was whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) prevented injured victims from bringing negligent hiring claims against freight brokers.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that it does not.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the Court, explained that state safety laws and claims involving dangerous motor vehicles fall within the traditional police powers of the states and are not preempted by federal transportation deregulation statutes.
That distinction is critically important.
Had the Court ruled the other way, brokers and shippers would have faced reduced accountability for hiring unsafe carriers. The consequences could have been devastating.
America is already experiencing an alarming number of fatal trucking crashes every year. More than 5,000 Americans are killed annually in trucking-related collisions. Many of these deaths have taken place in Middle Tennessee, which is a hub of the transportation industry with Interstates I-65, I-40, and I-24 all meeting in Nashville.
If brokers and shippers had been granted blanket immunity, the trucking industry could have faced a dangerous “race to the bottom,” where cost-cutting and speed outweighed safety considerations. At Ponce Law, we have seen a significant increase in the number of freight bookers using substandard motor carriers.
Without the possibility of liability, some brokers would have been incentivized to hire motor carriers regardless of:
Today’s decision helps ensure that companies arranging transportation cannot simply ignore obvious safety red flags.
This ruling is not just a win for accident victims and public safety — it is also a victory for the many motor carriers who operate responsibly and follow the rules.
Across Tennessee and throughout the country, reputable trucking companies invest heavily in safety by:
These companies should not be forced to compete against unsafe carriers willing to cut corners to offer cheaper rates.
The Supreme Court’s decision helps level the playing field and rewards carriers that prioritize safety and professionalism.
At Ponce Law, we believe accountability is one of the strongest tools for improving highway safety. When companies know they can be held responsible for negligent decisions, they are more likely to take meaningful steps to protect the public.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport sends an important message:
Safety cannot be outsourced. And companies that place dangerous trucks on the road can still be held accountable.
This decision represents a major step forward for safer highways, responsible transportation practices, and justice for victims of trucking negligence.
For the trucking companies that play by the rules — and for every Tennessee family traveling America’s roads today — that is a very good thing.
By Michael Ponce
