United States: Rail, Road & Cycling

Every minute matters when delivery timing is a live-or-die issue for many industries served by transportation providers. In automotive logistics line-down scenarios can be devastating to business operations. In healthcare logistics the outcomes can be far worse for loved ones. Still, the question of whether those occurrences mean that the customer has compensable damages is entirely different.

The trucking sector, responsible for moving nearly three-quarters of all goods in America, is experiencing a fundamental shift as freight capacity contracts due to carrier exits, fleet downsizing, and regulatory pressures. With spot market rates rising above contract rates for the first time since early 2022 and structural driver shortages expected to worsen, shippers who treat this as a temporary cyclical event may find themselves unprepared for sustained rate increases. Understanding the root causes of th

On May 14, 2026, the United States Supreme Court delivered an important win for truck crash victims and highway safety. In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, the Court unanimously held that federal law does not shield freight brokers from state-law claims when they negligently hire unsafe motor carriers. The ruling reverses the Seventh Circuit and confirms that negligent-hiring claims against brokers fall within the safety exception of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act.

The automotive industry has never stood still. Over the past century, it has adapted to new technologies, changing consumer preferences, evolving regulations, and shifting economic conditions. What distinguishes today's transformation is not the pace of change, but the number of forces reshaping the industry simultaneously.

The Supreme Court has spoken in its Montgomery v. Caribe Transport decision, and the brokerage sector, and even shipper and motor carriers, are working toward adapting to this “new liability regime.”

Autonomous vehicle startups face a complex regulatory landscape where compliance is not just a legal requirement but a strategic advantage. Understanding how federal and state frameworks govern operating authority, insurance, data collection, and foreign investment can determine whether a company achieves sustainable growth or faces costly setbacks that derail commercialization efforts.

On May 21, 2026, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to begin marking up its $580 billion, five-year surface transportation reauthorization legislation that includes highway, public transportation, rail, highway safety, motor carrier safety and hazardous materials transportation programs.

In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the United States Supreme Court held that state-law negligent hiring claims against freight brokers are not preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (“FAAAA”).

The U.S. Army’s FY 2027 budget request emphasizes force growth, modernization, and industrial base expansion. The Army is requesting approximately $252.8 billion...