New Trucking Accident Law Expands Freight Broker Liability

"Can a freight broker be held liable after a truck accident?"

A Change in Trucking Accident Law

When a semi-truck causes a catastrophic highway crash, most people assume the truck driver and trucking company are the only parties that may be held responsible. But a recent decision from the United States Supreme Court may significantly expand who can be held accountable after a serious trucking accident.

In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, decided on May 14, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court held that injured victims may pursue state-law negligent-hiring claims against freight brokers when those claims involve motor vehicle safety. In practical terms, the decision opens the door to claims against companies that arrange freight shipments if they carelessly select unsafe trucking companies.

What Happened in the Montogmery Case?

The Plaintiff, Sean Montgomery, suffered severe and permanent injuries after his tractor-trailer, which was stopped on the shoulder of an Illinois highway, was struck by another truck.

A freight broker had arranged the shipment involved in the crash. Freight brokers serve as middlemen between companies that need goods moved and the trucking companies that haul those loads.

Mr. Montgomery alleged that the broker knew, or should have known, that the trucking company involved had a “conditional” safety rating from federal regulators, which indicates the company had significant safety problems, but was still allowed to operate. The argument was hiring the known problematic trucking company created an unreasonable risk of a serious crash. He claimed the broker was negligent in selecting an unsafe carrier.

The basic theory is straightforward: when a company carelessly hires another company to perform work that creates a risk of physical harm, it may be responsible if that careless hiring decision contributes to someone being injured.

The Legal Fight in this Instance

The broker argued that Mr. Montgomery’s negligent-hiring claim was barred by a federal law known as the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, or FAAAA. Despite its name, the FAAAA includes provisions that govern the trucking industry. It generally prevents states from enforcing laws related to trucking prices, routes, or services because those are “preempted” by this Federal law.

The broker argued that allowing a negligent-hiring claim against the freight broker would interfere with that federal law and improperly regulate broker services. The lower courts agreed with that argument and dismissed Mr. Montgomery’s negligent-hiring claim.

However, the matter was taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court which reversed the lower court ruling. The Supreme Court explained that while the FAAAA broadly preempts some state laws affecting trucking and broker services, the statute contains an important safety exception. That exception preserves state authority over motor vehicle safety.

The Court held that a negligent-hiring claim against a freight broker falls within that safety exception when the claim is based on the broker’s selection of an unsafe motor carrier. Put simply, choosing which truck and trucking company will move freight directly concerns the safety of motor vehicles on public roads.

Why This Decision Matters

Montgomery is a major development in trucking accident lawsuits and litigation. Before this ruling, freight brokers often argued that federal law shielded them from state-law negligence claims, even when they allegedly ignored warning signs about an unsafe carrier.

That defense is now much weaker in cases involving motor vehicle safety.

For victims and families, this means a trucking accident investigation should not stop with the driver and the trucking company. It should also examine who arranged the shipment, what the broker knew about the carrier’s safety history, whether federal safety records were reviewed, and whether the broker ignored red flags in order to move freight quickly or cheaply.

This change does not mean brokers are automatically liable after every truck crash, but that they should be investigated as a potential Defendant. Brokers that act reasonably and carefully chose the carriers they hire will still have strong defenses. But brokers that ignore known safety problems may now face accountability when those choices contribute to catastrophic injuries or death.

The Bottom Line

Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC is an important U.S. Supreme Court decision for truck accident victims. It confirms that freight brokers cannot always hide behind federal preemption when their own negligent carrier-selection decisions put unsafe trucks on the road.

For people injured in serious trucking crashes, the ruling may create an additional path to accountability and compensation. For the trucking and freight industries, it is a clear warning that safety cannot be treated as someone else’s responsibility. 

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a trucking accident, it is important to investigate not only the driver and trucking company, but also the brokers and other entities involved in placing that truck on the road.