Maritime Freight Briefing: Supreme Court Ruling Reshapes Broker Liability as Tech Sector Drives Logistics Demand

## Supreme Court Strips Freight Brokers of Federal Preemption Defence In a ruling with far-reaching consequences for the freight and logistics industry, the United States Supreme Court has unanimously decided in *Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II* that federal preemption can no longer be used as a defence against negligent carrier selection lawsuits, according to FreightWaves. The decision effectively dismantles what had long been considered brokers' most powerful legal protection. Previously, brokers could invoke federal preemption under the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) to have state-level negligence claims dismissed before trial. That shield is now gone. Josh Lovan of compliance specialist J. J. Keller told FreightWaves that the ripple effects are already being felt across the industry. Brokers are now exposed to direct liability in state courts if they are found to have negligently selected an unsafe or unqualified carrier — a development that is prompting immediate reviews of carrier vetting procedures, insurance coverage, and contractual frameworks throughout the supply chain. For maritime freight operators with intermodal exposure, the ruling is particularly relevant. Cargo moving between ports and inland destinations frequently passes through broker-arranged trucking legs, meaning the decision could influence how maritime logistics providers structure their landside partnerships and due diligence obligations. Industry observers expect the ruling to accelerate adoption of more rigorous carrier monitoring tools and to drive up compliance costs for smaller brokerage operations that have historically relied on preemption as a litigation backstop. --- ## Samsara Raises Guidance as Data Centre Boom Fuels Logistics Demand Fleet management and connected operations platform Samsara has lifted its full-year financial guidance after securing new contracts tied to the rapid buildout of data centres and public infrastructure across the United States, FreightWaves reports. The company, which provides GPS tracking, safety monitoring, and operational analytics to commercial fleets, is benefiting from a surge in heavy construction and freight activity driven by the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom. Data centre projects require substantial volumes of specialised equipment, materials, and logistics coordination — all areas where real-time fleet visibility and compliance tools are in high demand. While Samsara operates primarily in the road freight sector, the trend underscores a broader dynamic relevant to maritime stakeholders: the AI and data centre construction wave is generating significant new cargo flows, including the movement of oversized and project cargo through major ports. Port authorities and bulk terminal operators handling construction materials and heavy machinery are likely to see sustained demand as these infrastructure programmes continue to scale. The guidance upgrade signals growing confidence that technology-driven logistics investment will remain robust through the remainder of the fiscal year.