C.H. Robinson Tightens Carrier Safety Rules After Supreme Court Ruling

C.H. Robinson has begun removing carriers from its network based on safety scores, sending notices to affected companies that they've exceeded intervention thresholds per FMCSA data. Affected carriers lose access to book loads on Navisphere Carrier immediately, though existing loads continue to deliver normally. The company has not publicly connected this policy shift to recent legal developments. Why It Matters The timing suggests a potential link to Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, a unanimous Supreme Court decision from May 14 that eliminated federal preemption of state-level negligent hiring claims against freight brokers. This ruling fundamentally changes liability exposure for freight intermediaries who fail to properly vet carriers. What Changed Prior to this decision, brokers had stronger legal protections when selecting carriers. The Supreme Court's 9-0 ruling means brokers can now face direct liability under state law if they contract with unsafe carriers. Justice Amy Coney Barrett's majority opinion removed a significant legal shield the industry had relied on. What Drivers Need to Know Brokers are likely reassessing carrier risk in real time to protect themselves legally. If your FMCSA safety scores exceed C.H. Robinson's thresholds, you may lose access to freight loads until scores improve. Focus on reducing violations and out-of-service findings to maintain broker relationships and freight access moving forward.