C.H. Robinson Is Removing Carriers Based on Safety Scores. A Supreme Court Decision Two Weeks Ago May Explain Why.

A announcement has been going retired to carriers successful the C.H. Robinson network, and it is worthy speechmaking cautiously due to the fact that of what whitethorn beryllium down it.

The message, branded nether C.H. Robinson and titled “Changes to bearer eligibility,” tells the recipient that their institution “exceeds involution thresholds for C.H. Robinson’s scoring exemplary based connected information from the FMCSA.” Effective immediately, the announcement states, the relationship is moved to non-certified presumption until BASIC scores improve. The bearer loses entree to publication loads connected Navisphere Carrier and done their aligned typical immediately. Loads successful transit present and get paid arsenic normal. Existing payables process successful full. But the quality to publication caller freight is gone until the information scores travel backmost into the broker’s acceptable range.

On its face, this reads arsenic a information argumentation update. Read against what happened astatine the Supreme Court 2 weeks earlier these notices started circulating, it invites a antithetic question: is the freight brokerage manufacture opening to reprice bearer hazard successful existent time, due to the fact that the ineligible consequences of getting that hazard appraisal incorrect conscionable changed permanently?

C.H. Robinson has not publically stated that the eligibility alteration is connected to the Supreme Court ruling, and the institution has not publically denote further changes. What follows is an investigation of the ruling, the notice, and the timing; and readers should measurement the transportation arsenic a beardown inference supported by series and mechanism, not arsenic a stated institution position.

What the Supreme Court Actually Did connected May 14

To recognize wherefore the C.H. Robinson announcement is drafting attention, you person to recognize Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC and the determination is much consequential for smaller carriers than astir thing other that has happened successful freight this year.

On May 14, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously, 9-0, that state-law negligent hiring claims against freight brokers are not preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act. Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the opinion. Justice Kavanaugh concurred, joined by Justice Alito. There was nary dissent.