Justice is coming for victims of dangerous illegal-migrant truckers

NY Post ^ | 5/17/26 | Adam B. Coleman

[Libloather]

A facet of the trucking industry little known to the general public has had a big impact on highway safety — and last week a US Supreme Court ruling ensured that it will have to take responsibility for the rigs it helps send out on the road.

That means innocent Americans who have been maimed or killed in big-rig crashes caused by negligent truck drivers may finally pursue justice.

And freight brokers that chase profits by contracting with unsafe trucking carriers — particularly those that hire unvetted illegal-immigrant drivers — will have to rethink their business practices.

The court’s unanimous 9-0 decision in Montgomery vs. Caribe Transport II, issued Thursday, cleared the way for victims to sue freight brokers for alleged “negligent hiring.”

Trucking industry veterans and victim advocates who have been ringing the alarm on Wall Street brokers’ shady practices are rejoicing in response.

“We are profoundly grateful to God for this miracle,” Shannon Everett of American Truckers United told me.

“This ruling clearly recognizes that highway safety demands full accountability from every participant on our nation’s roadways.”

Freight brokers are the industry’s middlemen.

They handle the logistics of connecting producers that have goods to be moved to carriers whose trucks and drivers can get those goods to buyers.

But for years, Everett said, brokers have “operated behind a shield of presumed immunity.”

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TOPICS: Local News; Outdoors; Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: illegal; justice; migrant; truckers

[Libloather]

Should take like an hour to clear up all this.

[posterchild]

For decades I’ve seen billboards advertising lawyers who will help people in accidents where 18 wheelers were at fault (e.g. deep pockets). Haven’t they always been vulnerable to lawsuits?

Is this adding additional criminal liability to civil liability or am I misunderstanding?

[Thud]

It’s not just brokers who are now at risk of liability here. The owners of the trailers and freight might be too.

[Alberta's Child]

The good news is that this is likely to spur some serious changes in the trucking industry that make it safer for American motorists and better for good companies and drivers.

The bad news is that this is going to be accompanied by major hikes in freight rates across the board.

[Skwor]

Yaa some businesses may go bankrupt for allowing drivers to kill Americans, others will adjust, painful nut much needed.

This appears to be the only way to stop illegal immigrants who can not even speak English from driver mobile “weapons” on our roads.

Honestly those companies deserve to go under and some execs should be in jail.

[jttpwalsh]

Brokers are like sports agents who connect two parties and collect a percentage of the money that changes hands. Instead of players and teams, they connect truckers with shippers. The presumption has been that they were not liable for any damage caused by the trucks, since they were not actually operating them on the road. The Supreme Court has ruled that, as a party to the transaction, they share responsibility for the results.

[Pol-92064]

Yes, Lawyers and their experts get 75% plus the legal fees leaving the plaintiff with 5% and the medical bills.

[CFW]

“Brokers are like sports agents who connect two parties and collect a percentage of the money that changes hands. Instead of players and teams, they connect truckers with shippers. The presumption has been that they were not liable for any damage caused by the trucks, since they were not actually operating them on the road. The Supreme Court has ruled that, as a party to the transaction, they share responsibility for the results.”

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Exactly. It previously allowed brokers to cut costs and hire the cheapest trucker available, which more often than not, meant an untrained illegal alien who could not read English, knew nothing about the rules of the road, nor how to maintain his 18-wheeler. After a deadly accident, the broker could say “I had nothing to do with it. Nothing at all”.

The court’s ruling means they can no longer get away with that.

Plaintiff’s Bar is going to love this decision. But so are American truck drivers who have been priced out of the business by illegal alien truck drivers.

[jttpwalsh]

Used to be 30 to 40 % back in the day, but I have not had any knowledge of that in decades. Thanks.

[jttpwalsh]

Hope so ! I have used one of the brokers that is prominent in this story. They always send FedEx Freight. To your point, anything that strengthens our American workforce is fine by me. Thanks.

[Alberta's Child]

Interesting analogy, but freight brokers do more than a sports agent. They’re responsible for handling paperwork and billing, and ensuring regulatory compliance. They must be certified in the U.S. by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

[jttpwalsh]

Thanks.

[4Runner]

Put freight back on the rails where it belongs and all of this s&^t will stop.

[dfwgator]

For decades I’ve seen billboards advertising lawyers who will help people in accidents where 18 wheelers were at fault (e.g. deep pockets). Haven’t they always been vulnerable to lawsuits?

[Alberta's Child]

The North American railroad industry doesn’t have the capacity to handle all the freight you want them to carry.

And no offense, but that idea makes no sense anyway in today’s world of logistics. When was the last time you purchased something at a business establishment that had a railroad siding?

[rottndog]

This solution just popped in my head. Since there is a shortage of drivers, we need a way for trucks to carry more freight. Double and triple trailer trucks can easily accomplish this. Utah and some other states allow triple trailer trucks with no real issues. This would work great, but too many states are cowardly about it. Like Kalifornia...

[neverevergiveup]

What should happen is that little weasels (my apologies to real animal weasels) like Newsom are made liable for every death that occurred because they supported politically correct ‘woke’ actions (e.g. truck driver licenses for non-Americans who can't even read American traffic signs) at the expense of Americans.

[neverevergiveup]

When was the last time you purchased something at a business establishment that had a railroad siding?

Good point, and an interesting consideration. If you travel any major US interstate or highways in urban US areas, or take Amtrak in various locations, you will see lots of abandoned factories and warehouses that have railroad tracks right up to loading docks.

When I see this it elicits a lot of nostalgia and emotions. What was life like when that rail line was operative, and young workers waited to load or unload the rail cars on those tracks? How many families grew up on the wages earned in those places? Where are they (or their children, grandchildren etc.) now? Life moves on, but we shouldn't forget the past that blazed a trail for us - or forget the lessons that the past provides if we are enlightened enough to consider them.

[jttpwalsh]

I’m guessing population density might be an issue ? It is challenging enough on the 5 and 405 Freeways with double trailers. Trust me, not the place for triple trailers. Thanks.

[Alberta's Child]

There is no shortage of drivers. What you’re seeing is an entire industry with a completely distorted and dysfunctional compensation model, coupled with a skilled job that is regulated and scrutinized beyond anything most normal people would want to endure.