C.H. Robinson Removes Carriers After 9-0 Ruling Exposes Brokers to Negligent-Hiring Claims
Updated
Updated · FreightWaves · May 30
C.H. Robinson Removes Carriers After 9-0 Ruling Exposes Brokers to Negligent-Hiring Claims
4 articles · Updated · FreightWaves · May 30
C.H. Robinson has shifted some carriers to non-certified status effective immediately, cutting off new load bookings on Navisphere and through reps while allowing in-transit loads and payables to proceed.
The notices cite carriers exceeding internal thresholds tied to FMCSA BASIC safety data, the same scores that can now underpin negligent-selection lawsuits after the Supreme Court’s May 14 decision.
In that 9-0 ruling, the court held state-law negligent hiring claims against freight brokers are not preempted by the FAAAA, allowing cases over unsafe carrier selection to move forward on the merits.
C.H. Robinson has not publicly linked the eligibility change to the ruling, but the two-week timing and the use of FMCSA score thresholds have led carriers and industry observers to connect them.
The shift could tighten capacity across brokerage networks, raise costs for brokers, and make BASIC scores a more immediate commercial hurdle for small carriers seeking freight.
As brokers now face 'nuclear verdicts,' will a two-tiered trucking market emerge, separating high- and low-risk carriers?
The Supreme Court exposed a safety 'black hole.' Will Congress now mandate liability insurance for America's 28,000 freight brokers?
Freight Broker Liability After the 2026 Supreme Court Decision: Market, Legal, and Economic Impacts
Overview
On May 14, 2026, the Supreme Court unanimously found C.H. Robinson Worldwide liable for negligent hiring, which immediately forced the freight brokerage industry to rethink risk management. Major brokers, including C.H. Robinson, quickly tightened their carrier eligibility requirements by more closely examining safety scores. This shift reduced the pool of eligible carriers, leading to less available capacity and higher costs for brokers to cover freight. As a result, the industry is facing increased operational expenses and a changing legal landscape, with brokers and carriers needing to adapt quickly to maintain compliance and manage new risks.