C.H. Robinson has issued a notice to carriers in its network, informing them that their companies must improve their safety scores to retain loads.
The notice, titled 'Changes to carrier eligibility,' states that the carrier exceeds intervention thresholds for C.H. Robinson's scoring model based on data from the FMCSA.
This change is effective immediately and will impact the ability of carriers to book new freight until their safety scores come back into the broker's acceptable range.
The move may be a response to the recent Supreme Court ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, which found that state-law negligent hiring claims against freight brokers are not preempted by federal law.
The case involved a 2017 crash on Interstate 70 in Illinois, resulting in a lawsuit against C.H. Robinson for negligently selecting a carrier with known safety deficiencies.
The ruling has significant implications for the industry, as it may lead to a reevaluation of carrier risk and liability.
C.H. Robinson has not publicly stated that the eligibility change is connected to the Supreme Court ruling, but the timing and policy shift suggest a strong inference.
As the industry continues to navigate this new landscape, carriers must prioritize safety and compliance to avoid similar consequences in the future.
The changes announced by C.H. Robinson serve as a reminder of the importance of accountability and responsibility in the freight brokerage industry.
The industry is watching closely as C.H. Robinson's new policy reflects a growing emphasis on safety and accountability.
