The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously on May 14, 2026, that freight brokers can be sued under state law for negligently hiring unsafe motor carriers. In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, the court held that a negligent-hiring claim against a broker is not preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett delivered the opinion, with a concurrence by Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined by Justice Samuel Alito. The court found that the federal law's safety exception preserves the authority of states to regulate safety with respect to motor vehicles, and that requiring a broker to use ordinary care when selecting a carrier directly concerns the trucks that will operate on public roads.
The case arose after Shawn Montgomery suffered severe and permanent injuries when his tractor-trailer was struck by a truck operating for Caribe Transport II. Montgomery argued that the broker knew or should have known from the carrier's safety rating that the arrangement was reasonably likely to result in a crash.
The decision establishes that brokers across every state must exercise reasonable care in selecting carriers, and that failure to do so can support a negligent-hiring claim. Legal analysts expect brokers to tighten carrier vetting procedures and review their documentation practices in response to the ruling.
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal - https://www.ccjdigital.com/regulations/safety-compliance/article/15825179/high-court-holds-brokers-accountable-for-hiring-unsafe-carriers