Supreme Court ruling could push spot rates toward $5 per mile

Key Details Spot rates hit $3.55 per mile this week, approaching the all-time high of $3.68. With Memorial Day seasonality and tight capacity from road check week enforcement, rates could break records in the coming days. Analysts see potential for another 14-cent push higher as shippers move freight ahead of the holiday. Why It Matters The bigger story for trucking is a unanimous Supreme Court decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II that eliminates broker immunity from state-level personal injury lawsuits. The ruling means brokers can now be held liable for failing to properly vet carriers' safety ratings before load assignment. Market Impact Ahead With approximately 30 percent of trucks in the market carrying no safety rating or conditional ratings, expect significant carrier attrition. Brokers will tighten vetting standards, reducing available capacity further and pushing rates upward. The combination of seasonal demand, enforcement pressure, and compliance costs could create perfect conditions for sustained rate increases well above current levels through summer.