Supreme Court Issues Ruling that Trucking Brokers Can Be Liable for Using Dangerous Truck Companies

SCOTUS Ruling Heralded as Major Win for Plaintiffs Harmed by Unsafe Trucking Haulers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (May 22, 2026) – The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a unanimous ruling that a freight broker can be held legally responsible for claims they hired an unsafe trucking hauler that contributed to an accident.

The case involved a man identified as Shawn Montgomery, who is seriously injured after his vehicle was struck by a speeding tractor-trailer in Illinois. His attorneys filed a lawsuit against C.H. Robinson, which is one of the largest freight brokers in the nation.

The firm involved had major safety issues prior to the collision. They argued in court that federal law prohibits brokers from being held liable for negligent hiring claims based on state law.

The Supreme Court rejected the argument from the trucking brokers and held that they can be liable in these types of claims. This decision will likely have many serious implications for the freight industry.

Safety advocates are hoping that this will push brokers to more carefully vet all of the drivers that they use to complete trips. The resolution of this case also comes at the same time that many “chameleon carriers” are using loop poles in the law to evade scrutiny.

There are several different trucking brokers operating in California.

• Allen Lund Company — La Cañada Flintridge
• SJR Freight Service — Stockton
• Chief Logistics LLC — North Hollywood
• CEVA Logistics — Torrance /
• Cargo Tales Inc. — Manteca
• EastWest Freight LLC — Pico Rivera
• Service Bros Transport — City of Industry
• Cargomatic Inc. — Long Beach

One of the issues that SCOTUS did not touch in issuing their ruling is what the “reasonable” standard should be when determining what freight brokers should do when picking carriers.

Liability for Accidents Involving Unsafe Truck Haulers

Establishing liability for accidents involving freight brokers will often depend on whether or not the broker acted in a reasonable manner when selecting a truck company to haul their particular load. Although brokers do not control the truck or employee, the specific driver, they could still face liability for a collision if they helped facilitate putting an unsafe carrier on the roadway. It matters whether or not a broker knew or should have known that the carrier they were using had a poor safety record or repeated violations that create a foreseeable risk of harm. There are several theories of liability in these types of cases.

• A truck broker could be liable for negligent hiring if they used an unsafe motor carrier without taking reasonable measures to screen that carrier.
• A truck broker may fail to review safety data from FMCSA related to the carrier that they are selecting.
• A truck broker may ignore obvious warning signs, such as prior violations, that would indicate a carrier is not operating vehicles safely.
• A truck broker may fail to verify insurance or licensing information before conducting business with a carrier.

Truck accidents tend to be highly preventable in many different situations. They often involve drivers that are traveling too fast for the prevailing conditions. Part of the problem is that many carriers push their drivers to complete routes as quickly as possible. This can lead drivers to adopt unsafe habits. In fact, the FMCSA has estimated that a significant portion of truck collisions involved truck drivers that felt under pressure from their carrier.

Steps to Take After California Semi-Truck Accidents

Trucks account for a relatively small portion of the total number of vehicles on the roadway. But they are involved in a disproportionately high number of serious collisions, which have been increasing in recent years. According to the National Safety Council, “in 2024, 120,724 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury, a 5.4% increase from 2023. Since 2016, the number of trucks involved in injury crashes has increased 18%. The involvement rate per 100 million large truck miles driven increased 5.7% in 2024 to 37 per 100 million large truck miles traveled.” Several actions should be taken after any truck accident.

• Police Report: The police report created after the accident should be sought.
• Event Data Recorder: The event data recorder for the truck involved in the crash should be scrutinized. This device will contain critical information about how a truck was being operated prior to a collision.
• Truck Company Safety Record: The safety record for the truck company involved in the crash should be examined.
• Medical Records: All medical records related to injuries should be collected.
• Independent Investigation: Victims of truck accidents should seek the guidance of an experienced truck accident attorney.

Truck accidents can leave victims with devastating injuries that impaired their ability to work or even perform daily tasks. Many accidents tend to involve the same companies that keep getting hit with safety violations. In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling, it is important to probe the actions of truck brokers. Many of these brokers are simply not taking enough time or effort to screen the haulers they are using. Victims of these collisions are able to seek some measure of accountability and transparency through personal injury claims. Damages from a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

Investigating California Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC were glad to hear that the Supreme Court sided with the plaintiff in this case. For far too long, truck brokers have been getting away with using companies with very poor safety records. There needs to be some accountability for when a truck broker prioritizes their own profits over the safety of the public.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a California semi-truck accident? Our team of truck accident attorneys is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at 949-727-9300.