C.H. Robinson responds to Supreme Court ruling, reaffirms support for federal safety oversight

C.H. Robinson, the global leader in Lean AI supply chains, today responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Montgomery v. Caribe Transport case, which clarifies the legal framework governing how certain state-level claims may be applied to federally licensed freight brokers. While the company is disappointed with the outcome, it respects the Court’s ruling and remains committed to safety, service, and compliance across the nation’s transportation network.

“Our hearts continue to go out to the victims of truck accidents,” said Dorothy Capers, Chief Legal Officer at C.H. Robinson. “Safety is foundational to who we are—our employees and their families travel these same roads, and our business depends on safe freight delivery. While we are disappointed in the Court’s decision, we will continue to operate responsibly, support stronger federal enforcement, and work constructively with regulators, carriers, and customers to strengthen the national safety system and support safe, reliable transportation across the country. As Justices Kavanaugh and Alito stated in the concurrence, ‘Importantly, the Court’s decision today should not be read to mean that brokers will routinely be subject to state tort liability in the wake of truck accidents.’”

For the millions of U.S. companies who depend on efficient, reliable, and safe supply chains, this ruling underscores the importance of working with a broker that offers the scale, technology and compliance processes needed to navigate this new freight landscape. C.H. Robinson will continue to select only carriers licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as required by law, support strong federal oversight, serve customers without disruption, and remain a trusted partner for shippers.

C.H. Robinson strongly supports stricter federal enforcement and higher safety standards, including urging Congress to pass Dalilah’s law. Separate from the Montgomery case, Dalilah’s Law focuses on preventing non-compliant and undocumented individuals from obtaining CDLs and strengthening the federal system that determines who is authorized to operate commercial vehicles.

Shipments we arrange overwhelmingly move without incident, with just one serious accident claim filed for every 500 million miles driven on our customers’ loads. But even one accident is one too many. The company will remain actively engaged with policymakers and regulators to advocate for stronger federal oversight, clearer regulatory guidance, and a consistent national framework that supports safety and the efficient movement of goods.

“C.H. Robinson uses industry-leading carrier-selection processes, and we believe in continuous improvement. Safety is paramount,” said Capers. “We will keep working with policymakers, advocates, carriers, our customers, and others across the industry to strengthen the national safety system and advance practices that reduce accidents on America’s roads.”