The U.S. Supreme Court’s May 2026 decision in Shawn Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, No. 24-1238, has brought renewed attention to the role freight brokers play in carrier selection. The Court held that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) does not categorically preempt state-law negligent-hiring claims against freight brokers when those claims concern the safety of motor vehicles. As a result, claims that previously could have been dismissed on federal preemption grounds may now proceed, placing greater focus…
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In Maryland personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, damages are generally divided into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are objective, quantifiable financial losses, including past and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. Non-economic damages are often referred to as “pain and suffering” and include physical pain, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life. When a person suffers an injury, the impacts are both financial and deeply…
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A significant legal battle is unfolding in the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia that could have far-reaching consequences for commercial drivers, trucking companies, motor carriers, and businesses that depend on employees with commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). The lawsuit, State of Illinois, et al. v. U.S. Department of Transportation, et al., No. 1:26-cv-2547 (E.D. Va), involves a dispute between a coalition of states, including Virginia, and the federal government over access to millions of commercial driver license…
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AI and its use have been a prevailing topic among legal professionals for years. However, recent monitoring and analysis of AI agent software have prompted discussion surrounding the security and liability risks posed to companies. As AI software evolves, so do its practical uses and capabilities, and, therefore, the associated risks and liability implications. For the past few years, AI has largely served as an information resource. You would ask AI software a question, and in turn, it would search…
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“Virginia is for Lovers” is the famous travel slogan for the Commonwealth of Virginia, but apparently, Virginia law draws the line at lovers of speculative wagers, i.e., gambling. Imagine you are on a casual date, still wondering whether this relationship will go anywhere, and the waitress lays the check in the middle of the table. As you both reach for your wallets, you awkwardly chuckle and say, “Let’s flip for it.” Stop right there. Not only will this make a…
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As many in the transportation industry are aware, there have been increased reports over the past several years of efforts to fraudulently inflate the value of personal injury claims in accident cases. Typically, these schemes involve relationships among litigation funders, lawyers, and physicians that result in claimants receiving medically unnecessary care, including surgical procedures, in order to inflate medical costs and the settlement value of cases. The schemes can also involve recruiting people to stage accidents in their entirety. The…
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A serious truck crash can trigger a lawsuit long before a complaint is ever filed. Within hours of an accident, plaintiff’s counsel may begin looking for the evidence that will tell the story of what happened—and, just as importantly, what the trucking company knew, when it knew it, and what it did afterward. Today, that evidence goes far beyond the accident report and driver’s log. Electronic logging device (ELD) data, telematics, dash-camera footage, GPS information, dispatch communications, maintenance records, cell-phone…
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The promise of autonomous trucks has moved from concept to reality on American highways, but the transition is unfolding in fits and starts. As of mid-2026, the commercial trucking industry stands at a crossroads: sophisticated self-driving technology is operating in limited deployment, yet a patchwork of federal guidance, state regulations, and unresolved legal questions continues to shape—and constrain—how and where autonomous commercial motor vehicles can operate. For fleet operators, owner-operators, and industry stakeholders, understanding the current regulatory landscape, operational realities,…
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A July 2026 Dallas County jury verdict has drawn attention across the transportation and logistics industry. In Lipe v. Lupus Superior, LLC, C.H. Robinson Company Inc., et al., a jury reportedly awarded approximately $604 million arising from a fatal 2021 commercial vehicle collision in Mississippi involving a freight broker, a motor carrier, and a commercial driver. The verdict is subject to post-trial proceedings and possible appeal. It is not a new law or a rule that automatically makes a freight…
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On July 9, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system inducement requirements for newly manufactured diesel-powered highway engines and vehicles, as well as nonroad diesel engines and equipment. For those outside industries that rely on diesel-powered equipment, this proposal concerns potential changes to Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system requirements—an area of regulation that has significant operational and compliance implications for manufacturers, equipment owners, and commercial operators.…
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