Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC: Argued March 4, 2026

Case Summary:On March 4, 2026, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, a high-stakes case for the logistics industry that examines whether federal law protects freight brokers from state-law negligence lawsuits.The case arose after Shawn Montgomery was severely injured when a tractor-trailer struck his vehicle on the shoulder of an Illinois highway. Montgomery sued the broker, C.H. Robinson, alleging it was "negligent" for hiring a motor carrier with a known history of safety issues. The lower courts dismissed the claim, ruling that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA)—a 1994 law designed to deregulate the trucking industry—preempts such state-law claims.Core Legal IssuesThe justices are tasked with resolving a "circuit split" regarding two specific provisions of the FAAAA:The Preemption Rule: Does a state-law "negligent hiring" claim "relate to a service" of a broker in a way that Congress intended to prohibit to ensure a uniform national market?The Safety Exception: Even if the claim is generally prohibited, does it fall under the "safety regulatory authority of a State with respect to motor vehicles," which Congress explicitly carved out and preserved for the states?Highlights from Oral ArgumentDefining "Safety Regulation": Paul Clement, representing Montgomery, argued that personal injury lawsuits have historically been the primary way states regulate safety. However, several conservative justices, including Justice Clarence Thomas, questioned whether a lawsuit against a middleman who never touches a truck truly counts as regulation "with respect to motor vehicles."The "Patchwork" Concern: Counsel for the broker, Theodore Boutrous, argued that allowing these suits would create a "patchwork" of 50 different state standards for how brokers must screen carriers, "bollixing up" interstate commerce and driving up insurance costs for the entire supply chain.Practicality and Common Sense: Justice Brett Kavanaugh focused on the practical burden on small brokers, asking how they are supposed to verify complex safety data or driver English proficiency without being forced to only hire large, expensive carriers, potentially crushing small business competition.The Intrastate Anomaly: Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh pointed out a potential "logical flip" in the statute: the law clearly bars these suits for intrastate (in-state) travel. They questioned why Congress would prohibit states from regulating safety within their own borders but allow them to do so for interstate (cross-border) trips.The Solicitor General's View: The Department of Justice participated in the argument, siding largely with the brokers. The government argued that while states can regulate trucks and drivers directly, extending that authority to the "matchmaking" service of a broker stretches the safety exception too far.