Supreme Court News Updates

The Montgomery ruling prompted brokers and carriers to increase vetting and spurred the release of enhanced vetting software.

“[This] is not us saying we want immunity from liability,” said C.H. Robinson CEO Dave Bozeman. “No, we want accountability. Give us a standard.”

The ruling left open the question of how to apply a so-called reasonable care standard that requires brokers to vet carriers they hire to haul freight.

Brokers are reassessing how they vet and monitor carriers, from safety review processes and load assignment practices to the tools used to evaluate performance.

Trump’s suspension of the carve-out had led to more than $1 billion in duty payments by the end of 2025, according to Customs and Border Protection.

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II started a conversation that cannot end in a courtroom, writes Evans Transportation CEO Ryan Keepman.

Even brokers that have prioritized compliance and safety could face a more difficult operating environment, trucking and logistics leaders said.

The Supreme Court’s recent Montgomery ruling has raised the stakes for how freight brokers approach carrier selection, documentation and liability exposure.

Facing an estimated $166 billion in refunds, the Trump administration began processing repayments in April. The first round of repayments took place in May.

Several prominent freight brokerages have said the decision, while increasing legal exposure, will also reinforce industry safety practices.