A civil RICO lawsuit against C.H. Robinson and TQL by six motor carriers alleges racketeering and collaboration with illegal carriers to depress prices, causing lost business. With jury selection set for 2028, what does this drawn-out legal battle mean for the freight industry? Attorney Matt Leffler breaks down the complexities, motions to dismiss, and potential implications of this unprecedented case, including whether lost contracts are even actionable under RICO law.
Six trucking companies have filed a civil RICO lawsuit against TQL and C.H. Robinson, alleging the brokers conspired with illegal motor carriers to suppress rates and cost the plaintiffs tens of millions of dollars in lost contracts — a claim legal analyst Matt Leffler says faces long odds given existing Supreme Court precedent.
The case, still in the pleading phase, has a tentative jury selection date of April 2028, though Leffler cautioned the timeline could stretch even further. TQL has already filed two motions to dismiss: one arguing failure to state a claim and another seeking to move the case from Texas to federal court in Ohio on forum non-convenience grounds. C.H. Robinson filed its appearance in the case as recently as the day before the interview, with its own response expected within one to two weeks.
The six plaintiff carriers — Stevens Trucking, Western Flyer Express, D&M Carriers, Frey Miller Trucking, IWX Motor Freight, Christensen Transportation, and EOS Incorporated — allege that TQL and C.H. Robinson relied on fraudulent trucking companies using forced labor and illegal ELD manipulations, locking legitimate carriers out of shipper contracts. If the case were to survive and result in a $50 million damages finding, civil RICO’s treble-damages provision could expose the defendants to $150 million plus attorney’s fees.
“Maybe the goal isn’t to win a RICO case. Maybe the goal is simply to have a RICO litigation being talked about in the media, and maybe that’ll give pressure to other people to make decisions or changes,” Leffler said.
Leffler pointed to a significant vulnerability in the plaintiffs’ position: three of the six motor carriers have out-of-service rates for their commercial vehicles above the national average of 24.9%. He also cited the Supreme Court’s 2006 Anza decision as directly relevant precedent, noting the court held that lost business contracts tied to alleged fraud are not recoverable under civil RICO. “I think that the plaintiffs have a really hard road ahead of them,” he said.
TQL’s forum non-convenience motion centers on the argument that all relevant evidence is located in Ohio, the company’s home state, and that it has arbitration clauses and other contracts better adjudicated there. Because civil RICO is a federal statute, the case must remain in federal court regardless of which venue prevails. The court is expected to hear argument on TQL’s motions in the near term, potentially resolving the pleading phase within the next month or two.
The broader stakes for the industry are significant. Leffler noted that brokers now move 30% of all freight in the United States, a share that has steadily eroded motor carrier volumes. If the RICO claims were to survive dismissal, it could open any broker to similar litigation on the theory that vetting carriers through FMCSA processes and third-party technology is insufficient protection against civil racketeering claims. “This litigation is not going to go anywhere,” Leffler said, adding that the more likely outcome is dismissal before the case ever reaches discovery.
- Six motor carriers allege TQL and C.H. Robinson conspired with fraudulent carriers, seeking damages that could reach $150 million under RICO’s treble-damages rule.
- TQL has filed two motions to dismiss — one on failure to state a claim, one to transfer venue from Texas to Ohio — with CH Robinson’s response expected within weeks.
- Three of the six plaintiff carriers have commercial vehicle out-of-service rates above the national average of 24.9%, a fact that could undermine their claims of lost business due to broker misconduct.
This Summary is generated thanks to a transcription of the interview, for the full interview please enjoy the video above.
