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May 14, 2026 at 03:29 PM CST
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Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.
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Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.
The Supreme Court ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport is a major moment for the freight brokerage industry. Carrier selection is no longer just about covering freight. It’s now directly tied to risk, compliance, and accountability. Moving forward, brokers are going to need:
FMCSA safety data, inspection history, crash records, and carrier performance are all public information. This doesn’t mean brokers are automatically liable every time there’s an accident. But it does mean the expectation around “reasonable care” in selecting carriers has changed significantly. I believe this ruling will reshape:
The brokers that build disciplined, documented, and process-driven operations will be in the best position moving forward. The freight industry is changing quickly, and this decision is another sign that operational excellence and accountability are becoming more important than ever. As we continue to evolve at Bulkloads, we're assessing how we can properly enhance the vetting process for our shipper, broker and carrier clients. Please reach out with any questions or suggestions.
-Larry Hurt |
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Replied on Fri, May 15, 2026 at 09:03 AM CST
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Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.
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Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.
I’ve had several conversations recently with fellow carriers and brokers in the bulk freight space, and one thing that keeps coming up is how difficult the vetting process can be in our segment of the industry. Many of the current screening systems were built around general freight and spot market activity. In bulk, that creates challenges. Operations with ELD exemptions, limited spot market exposure, overweight permits, and non-interstate routing often don’t generate the same volume of public data or inspection history that these systems rely on. For example, many of us operate on state highways hauling overweight agricultural or bulk commodities where interstate travel is limited or prohibited. That can make public safety and compliance data look incomplete compared to a traditional over-the-road carrier, even when the operation itself is solid. I know groups like Bulkloads are always looking for ways to improve the industry, and I think there is a real opportunity for a bulk-specific vetting and compliance standard for both carriers and brokers alike. The challenge is figuring out how to build a system that works beyond just pulling public datasets. While there are many tools being promoted online and on LinkedIn right now, I’m not convinced most of them fully translate into the realities of the bulk freight world. Any meaningful long-term solution will likely require a more thorough process that goes beyond automated scoring models. It may involve third-party auditing, document verification, operational reviews, and establishing measurable standards for both brokers and carriers. At the end of the day, the industry is still trying to define what an “acceptable” vetting standard really looks like. It’s clear the expectation cannot be absolute perfection, but it also needs to be a level above the practices that are currently creating legal and operational issues for companies across the industry. |
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Replied on Mon, May 18, 2026 at 08:15 AM CST
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Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.
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Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.
It's been a long time since the trucking industry has had an overhaul. It's long overdue. Even though I think it's about time brokers have more skin in the game in regards to safety, I think this will somehow come back to bite carriers in the form of higher insurance premiums. Commercial trucking insurance is already almost prohibitively expensive. While it's true that most carriers don't have a safety rating, it doesn't take much for a brokerage or shipper to check a carriers safety stats on the SAFER website. It may come down to percentage of inspections passed or failed. They have an industry average listed on SAFER. They also have a carriers history of violations, crashes, and or fatalities. If a carrier exceeds the national/industry average in safety violations or crashes, a broker might want to avoid handing that carrier a load. The days of just finding the cheapest trucks are starting to wind down.
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