C.H. Robinson Faces Post-Montgomery Broker Liability Suit

H. Robinson, the nation's largest freight broker, has been named as a defendant in a Florida personal injury lawsuit stemming from an August 2025 fatal crash involving three deaths. The case is significant because it represents one of the first major liability challenges to a freight broker in the post-Montgomery landscape, where the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that brokers can be held liable under state safety exceptions previously believed to be preempted by federal transportation law. The lawsuit centers on a truck driver operating for White Hawk carrier who illegally attempted a U-turn across multiple lanes of Florida's Turnpike, resulting in a collision with a minivan.

H. Robinson has stated it did not broker the load and had not actively used White Hawk as an approved carrier since January 2024, the plaintiffs argue that brokers owe a duty to exercise reasonable care in selecting and vetting motor carriers before assigning freight. This case will test how courts interpret broker responsibilities in the post-Montgomery era and what standard of due diligence applies to carrier selection. For supply chain professionals, this case carries substantial implications.

The ruling marks a structural shift in regulatory risk for third-party logistics providers and freight brokers, who can no longer rely solely on FMCSA registration status as a liability shield. Brokers face mounting pressure to establish more rigorous carrier vetting procedures, document their due diligence efforts, and potentially expand their monitoring and compliance programs. The Transportation Intermediaries Association has already requested FMCSA guidance on carrier approval standards, indicating industry uncertainty about what constitutes adequate due diligence in a post-Montgomery environment.