Six Trucking Companies Sue C.H. Robinson and Total Quality Logistics Under RICO

FreightWaves··US·Read original
2▲0 ▼1Impact / 5
Summary · why it matters

Six trucking companies sued C.H. Robinson and Total Quality Logistics in Texas federal court on September 23, alleging the brokers grew by handing loads to carriers that cut costs with forced labor, fake logs, and safety shortcuts. Stevens Trucking, Western Flyer Express, Freymiller, IWX Motor Freight, Christenson Transportation, and E.O.S. are seeking lost profits, treble damages, and attorneys' fees. The carriers claim lost bids and squeezed margins, including about $21 million in missed Driscoll's linehaul revenue for IWX, $51 million in lost sales across 63 customers for Freymiller, and a roughly 30 percent revenue decline for Christenson, from $71 million in fiscal 2023 to $50 million in fiscal 2025. The case faces a key hurdle in the Supreme Court's 2006 ruling in Anza v. Ideal Steel Supply Corp., which held that RICO requires a direct link between the illegal act and the claimed injury, and courts applying Anza often dismiss competitor RICO claims as too remote. An early motion to dismiss built on Anza is expected, though false-advertising claims could remain, and the suit may serve as a roadmap for similar actions against other large third-party logistics providers.

Impact on assets 1

Industrials▼
CH Robinson Worldwide Inc
CHRW
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

C.H. Robinson is a defendant in a RICO suit alleging it profited by using carriers that relied on forced labor and safety shortcuts.

Off-coverage companies 6

Total Quality Logisticsi
Private▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

Total Quality Logistics is a defendant accused of growing by handing loads to carriers using forced labor and fake logs.

Freymiller Truckingi
Private± MixedRegulationrelevance

Freymiller is a plaintiff seeking $51 million in lost sales, but the RICO claim faces likely dismissal under Anza.

IWX Motor Freighti
Private± MixedRegulationrelevance

IWX Motor Freight is one of six plaintiff carriers suing C.H. Robinson and TQL under RICO, but the claim faces a major Anza remoteness hurdle and possible dismissal.

Stevens Truckingi
Private± MixedRegulationrelevance

Stevens Trucking is a plaintiff seeking lost profits and treble damages, though the RICO claim may be dismissed as too remote.

Western Flyer Expressi
Private± MixedRegulationrelevance

Western Flyer Express is a plaintiff in the RICO suit, but the claim's viability is uncertain given Anza.

Driscoll'si
Private± Mixedrelevance