🚚 TQL Sued Over Broker Transparency
Pink Cheetah Express has filed a lawsuit against Total Quality Logistics (TQL) in the District of Columbia District Court, accusing the company of failing to comply with a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) order for shipper-broker rate transparency.
Freight Day! 🚚 Pink Cheetah Express has filed a lawsuit against Total Quality Logistics (TQL) in the District of Columbia District Court, accusing the company of failing to comply with a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) order for shipper-broker rate transparency. More on the lawsuit 👇
💬 More in Freight:
⚫️ TFI Reverses Course on U.S. Relocation
⚫️ Double Broker Scheme Uncovered
⚫️ $21M Los Angeles Nuclear Verdict
⚫️ PODCAST: Why Truck Parking Isn't Free with Evan Shelley
BMO's Transportation Credit Data 📊
Credit conditions in the trucking industry may have reached their lowest point, according to recent data from BMO, a major lender to the sector. The bank reported a decrease in gross impaired loans and acceptances, dropping to CA$410 million ($288.5 million) in Q1 2025, down from a peak of CA$464 million in Q4 2024.
Allowances for the transportation group also improved, with a decline from CA$68 million in Q4 2024 to CA$61 million in Q1 2025. While the sector continues to face challenges, BMO has not pulled back and remains committed to the trucking industry.
TFI Reverses Course on U.S Relocation 🇨🇦
TFI International announced it will retain its Canadian corporate status, reversing a decision made just five days earlier to relocate to the U.S. The Montreal-based company, which operates transportation and logistics across North America, said the change was prompted by shareholder feedback.
One of the most concerned investors was the Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec, which manages $317 billion. A Caisse spokeswoman expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, noting that the company hadn’t informed them of the move. The Caisse owns just over 4% of TFI’s shares.
Last week, TFI had stated its intention to redomicile to the U.S., citing better alignment with its shareholder base and commercial presence, as 70% of its business is conducted in the U.S. However, TFI decided to stay Canadian after feedback from investors, including concerns around preserving Quebec’s interests.
CEO Alain Bédard had previously argued that moving to the U.S. would make it easier to work with the U.S. government, especially with its contracts with the Defense Department.
REVIEW OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY CARRIERSOURCE.
This week, we spotlight RB Intermodal LLC, a logistics service provider based in Jackson, TN, specializing in the transportation of powdered and granulated materials for the chemical and mining industries.
With a fleet of 5, RB Intermodal focuses on creating value for its customers by enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and providing sustainable competitive advantages through its supply chain solutions.
Their approach integrates innovative and sustainable transport methods to handle and move materials globally. RB Intermodal has earned a perfect 5/5 rating on CarrierSource from 3 reviews.
RB operates primarily across the Midwest and South, with preferred lanes including routes from Jackson, TN to Greenville, NC, Pittsburgh, PA, and Anderson, IN, among others.
Carrier Name: RB Intermodal LLC
Carrier Description: RB is a logistics service provider that specializes entirely in powdered and granulated materials for the chemical and mining industry.
Creating value is central to RB Intermodal's strategy. The solutions provided enable customers to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and secure a sustainable competitive advantage within their supply chains.
RB Intermodal's mission is to connect customers globally by integrating sustainable transport modalities and processes. This is achieved by leveraging innovation and creativity to transform how materials are handled and moved worldwide.
DOT Number: 2791782
Headquarters: Jackson, TN
Fleet Size: 5
What Else is Moving 🚚
TQL Sued Over Broker Transparency 🏛️
Pink Cheetah Express has filed a lawsuit against Total Quality Logistics (TQL) in the District of Columbia District Court, accusing the company of failing to comply with a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) order to provide shipper-broker rate transparency records.
The lawsuit stems from TQL’s refusal to release transactional records that Pink Cheetah claims are required under 49 C.F.R. 371.3, which grants motor carriers the right to inspect transaction records.
TQL & The FMCSA
The dispute began in January 2023 when Pink Cheetah contracted with TQL to haul a load of ice cream. After completing the load, Pink Cheetah requested TQL’s records, but TQL refused, citing a contract clause that waived the carrier’s right to inspect records. In response, FMCSA intervened, strengthening broker rate transparency rules and issuing an order for TQL to comply with record inspection requests.
TQL's Compliance and Continued Issues
By November 2023, TQL complied with FMCSA’s order and released the records, revealing that TQL made a 56% margin on the load, significantly higher than the industry average. Despite statistics from the brokerage industry suggesting that the average broker margin is 14-16%, Pink Cheetah claims that TQL has not fully complied with FMCSA’s directive and has continued to deny requests for additional records.
Pink Cheetah is now asking the court to compel TQL to provide all relevant records, including those for additional loads, and to enforce FMCSA’s order. The company is urging others in the trucking industry who have been affected by poor rates to speak up and support the push for greater broker transparency.
The FMCSA has reopened the comment period for broker transparency rules, which will last until March 20, 2024. OOIDA president Todd Spencer has also called on truckers to demand action from FMCSA, emphasizing the need to hold freight brokers accountable.
FREIGHT SNIPPETS ✂️
🚓 Heads Up: Police AI | The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department (SLMPD) has launched an AI-powered camera enforcement system to address texting while driving and other forms of distracted driving. The system features bright orange bars supporting multiple cameras designed to capture images of the interior of passing vehicles. Once a violation is identified, the system sends a message to an officer down the road to verify the violation and take enforcement action if necessary. Read more.
🥒🌶️ Cocaine Stashed | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized $930,400 worth of cocaine hidden in a shipment of cucumbers and jalapeños. CBP officers inspected a commercial tractor-trailer entering from Mexico. Using nonintrusive inspection (NII) equipment and a canine team, they uncovered 28 packages containing a total of 70.28 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vehicle. Read more.
🔋 WattEV Takes Delivery of Tesla Semis | WattEV Transport received two Tesla Semis in February and plans to add 40 more to its truck-as-a-service (TaaS) fleet by 2026. The trucks will be used for drayage at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, marking the first deployment of Tesla's Class 8 electric trucks at the largest U.S. port complex. WattEV’s current fleet includes 55 electric trucks, including two Teslas, and plans to grow to over 180 trucks by 2025. Read more.
🤖 Flexport's AI Products | Flexport is launching over 20 AI-powered products, including Flexport Intelligence for shipment data and Control Tower for real-time logistics visibility, powered by OpenAI, Anthropic, and AWS. Founder Ryan Petersen emphasized that while AI is automating some tasks, it will drive growth, not job cuts, and customers can still reach Flexport team members. The company is also testing AI voice agents for truckers and warehouses, though Petersen is cautious about expanding this capability until it’s more reliable. Read more.
🗳️ Dockworkers Labor Deal | Dockworkers on the East and Gulf Coasts approved a new contract on Tuesday, resolving labor issues at ports critical to U.S. trade. The International Longshoremen’s Association announced that nearly 99% of its members supported the agreement, which includes a 62% wage increase over six years and job guarantees as technology for autonomous cargo handling is introduced. The contract follows a brief strike in October, the first since 1977, and the involvement of two U.S. presidents. Read more.
🤝 Brent Hutto Joins Truck Parking Club | Truck Parking Club announced the addition of Brent Hutto as Chief Relationship Officer. Hutto, a seasoned industry veteran and former Truckstop executive, brings decades of experience, including his time at Randall Reilly, the parent company of Overdrive. He is widely recognized for his work in addressing key industry challenges, particularly the truck parking crisis. Read more.
NEW PODCAST 🎧
#74: Evan Shelley, Truck Parking Club
In this episode, Evan Shelley, CEO of Truck Parking Club, discusses the platform's explosive growth—from just a few hundred locations to over 1,400 across the U.S.—and how it's helping tens of thousands of drivers find safe parking every day.
Evan breaks down the challenges of a truck parking shortage, the heated debate around transitioning from free to paid parking, and how innovative tech solutions are streamlining the process.
He also tackles the misinformation swirling on social media and shares his thoughts on how private sector solutions are shaping the future of truck parking in a rebounding industry.
Pallets of News 🚛
Double Broker Scheme Uncovered 🚔
Canadian police recently arrested 41-year-old Manjinder Singh Bura of Brampton, Ontario, in connection with a large cargo and equipment theft operation.
The charges followed an investigation by Peel Regional Police (PRP) that began after multiple complaints in December 2024 and January 2025 about a company named All Days Trucking stealing trailers filled with cargo. Police discovered that All Days Trucking, which had an address in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was operating with expired credentials.
According to PRP, the suspects used a third-party online platform to identify freight of interest, then contacted victims offering discounted transportation services. The victims hired All Days Trucking, but instead of delivering the freight, the suspects dispatched other transportation companies, some of which were believed to be involved in the thefts.
Communications with victims were conducted through the email Dispatch@Alldaytrucking.com and various phone numbers, but once the freight was supposed to be delivered, the company cut all contact.
Investigators linked the operation to Bura Limited Inc., a company owned by Bura. On February 19, 2025, PRP executed seven search warrants at six trucking yards and one residential address tied to Bura, recovering stolen cargo and trailers valued at approximately $1.5 million.
$21M Los Angeles Nuclear Verdict 💼
A Los Angeles jury recently awarded $21.3 million in a nuclear verdict against trucking, significantly higher than a settlement offer that was previously rejected.
The case stemmed from a crash that took place in July 2016 involving Leila Miyamoto-Workman and her son, Jack Miyamoto. Miyamoto-Workman sustained severe injuries, including multiple shoulder and back surgeries. The defendant, Services Group of America, and its subsidiary Food Services of America were held responsible for the crash.
MEME OF THE DAY 😂
