Are You Making These Common Compliance Mistakes? Today’s 11:00 Freight Pulse & Law Update

The legal shield for freight brokers just shattered. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, the "federal preemption" defense against negligent carrier selection is effectively dead, leaving shippers and brokers exposed to a patchwork of state-level liability laws.

This ruling means "reasonable care" in carrier vetting is no longer a suggestion: it’s a survival requirement. Shippers can now be held liable in state courts for cargo damage or accidents if their broker fails to perform live, load-level screening. Relying on monthly or quarterly safety checks is a liability trap. At Lanta Logistics, our 3PL Maryland operations utilize real-time verification to ensure every carrier meets the highest federal and state safety standards before the wheels turn.

Simultaneously, the FMCSA’s new "Modus" system is aggressively purging non-compliant actors. Since its May launch, over 20,000 motor carriers have been placed out of service, many due to stepped-up English-language proficiency and CDL documentation enforcement. For brands moving goods through the Mid-Atlantic, this means capacity is tightening as high-risk carriers are sidelined. Partnering with a Hazmat certified 3PL that understands these shifting regulatory goalposts is the only way to maintain reliable transit times.

Furthermore, the FSMA 204 traceability rule is now in full enforcement. If you are storing perishables in a food-grade warehouse, you must be able to produce electronic, sortable traceability records for the FDA within 24 hours. Many brands are still struggling with manual logs that don't meet these digital standards. Our Glen Burnie warehouse features integrated WMS and TMS systems designed to automate Key Data Elements (KDEs), keeping your brand audit-ready and compliant at every touchpoint.

Compliance isn't just about avoiding fines; it’s about protecting your bottom line and ensuring Mid-Atlantic fulfillment remains seamless in a high-enforcement era.

Contact Lanta Logistics today to audit your supply chain and eliminate hidden compliance risks.