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Truckstop.com acquires heavy haul rating specialist Wize Load




The freight matching and transportation tech firm Truckstop.com today said it has acquired Wize Load, a provider of heavy haul rate intelligence tools, saying the move was part of its continued investment in heavy haul, oversized, and specialized freight.

According to Idaho-based Truckload.com, freight that involves open deck, heavy haul, or overdimensional equipment often requires more planning than standard truckload. For example, equipment requirements, permits, escorts, routing limits, and specialized equipment all affect how loads are priced and moved, and quoting these shipments can take more time without the right data.

To address that issue, the company has renamed Wize Load as “Truckstop Heavy Haul Rates,” and says the platform will give brokers a faster way to estimate pricing by bringing lane data, permit rules, and equipment requirements together in one place.

“This acquisition reflects our long-term focus on freight that requires more planning than standard truckload,” said Scott Moscrip, founder and CEO of Truckstop.com. “We are doubling down on technology built for heavy haul, oversized, and overdimensional freight, including the Heavy Haul Load Board and now Heavy Haul Rates. When a load involves permits, escorts, or specialized equipment, pricing has to be right before the truck moves.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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Transportation groups say supreme court case could harm freight brokers




A growing number of voices from the freight transportation field are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hold that federal law preempts state-law negligence claims against freight brokers.

The issue is the core of a case called Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC. And according to logistics experts, it has significant implications for wholesalers and distributors that hire motor carriers or rely on freight brokers to move goods across state lines.

Specifically, the Supreme Court will soon decide whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA), 49 U.S.C. § 14501(c), preempts state negligent-hiring claims against brokers for selecting motor carriers. The outcome will determine whether wholesalers and distributors operate under uniform national transportation standards or face a patchwork of state tort rules.

According to The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), a patchwork of rules would increase costs and legal uncertainty. So the group recently filed a brief to the court stating that opinion. NAW warns that allowing negligent-hiring claims to proceed would expose brokers to unpredictable liability, prompting narrower carrier selection and higher insurance and litigation costs—costs that would ultimately be borne by wholesalers, distributors, and consumers without improving safety outcomes.

“Trucking is a key mode of transportation for America’s wholesaler-distributors,” Brian Wild, Chief Government Relations Officer at NAW, said in a release. “Subjecting brokers to state-by-state negligence lawsuits for performing that core service would reduce carrier options, would raise freight costs, and make it harder for distributors to serve customers efficiently and competitively.”

Likewise, C.H. Robinson filed a similar brief last week in the case, saying that it looks forward to presenting its oral argument before the Supreme Court on March 4. “For nearly a century, federal law has provided one clear set of rules for how freight moves across the country. That clarity matters for safety and for the economy,” said Dorothy Capers, Chief Legal Officer, C.H. Robinson. “Our brief asks the Court to reaffirm that framework so responsibilities remain where they belong—and goods keep moving reliably for families and businesses nationwide.”

And third party logistics (3PL) trade group the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) also submitted a brief, arguing that state-level liability conflicts with federal transportation policy, and that expanding liability would force market consolidation, raise shipping costs, harm small businesses, and disrupt supply chain efficiency without improving safety.

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Echo Global to acquire ITS Logistics




The Chicago freight broker Echo Global Logistics Inc. has agreed to acquire ITS Logistics, a third-party logistics provider (3PL) based in Reno, Nevada, saying the combined companies will become a transportation and logistics platform with revenue of $5.4 billion.

Founded in 1999, ITS Logistics is known for its drop trailer and trailer pool program, DropFleet, as well as its capabilities in dedicated capacity, intermodal and drayage solutions, freight security, omnichannel fulfillment, and sustainability-focused transportation strategies, the firms said.

Echo said its technology platform leverages automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to support pricing, capacity sourcing, shipment execution, and exception management.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but ITS Logistics will continue operating with its existing leadership team.

"Joining forces with Echo marks an exciting new chapter for ITS Logistics," ITS CEO Scott Pruneau said in a release. "Echo's truckload brokerage scale, managed transportation platform, strong cross-border capabilities, and broad multimodal offering — combined with its technology platform and AI-driven innovation — will enable us to elevate our service offerings and provide enhanced value to our customers. Together, we will be well equipped to help customers navigate the increasing complexity of today's supply chain, offering smarter, more connected execution and powerful solutions that drive results."

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C.H. Robinson asks Supreme Court to set national standard for freight laws




Freight broker C.H. Robinson on Wednesday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm uniform federal freight laws, arguing that safety and the economy are best served by maintaining one national set of rules instead of 50 state-level ones.

The Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company filed that position in a merits brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case called “Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC” that will determine whether freight brokers may be held liable under varying state laws for accidents involving federally licensed motor carriers.

In a statement, the company said it depends on consistent federal rules that keep goods moving safely and efficiently nationwide. “For nearly a century, federal law has provided one clear set of rules for how freight moves across the country. That clarity matters for safety and for the economy,” said Dorothy Capers, Chief Legal Officer, C.H. Robinson. “Our brief asks the Court to reaffirm that framework so responsibilities remain where they belong—and goods keep moving reliably for families and businesses nationwide.”

This step follows previous legal moves, as last year C.H. Robinson joined a request to the Supreme Court to review an issue critical to preserving the federal system that regulates and ensures uniformity for motor carrier services (including broker services). And in response, the Supreme Court granted review.

In C.H. Robinson’s view, Congress decided to regulate interstate and foreign commerce to establish uniform federal standards and rules for the motor carrier industry. Under those federal rules, brokers do not own or operate motor vehicles or select their drivers, so they are not the proper parties to bear responsibility for motor vehicle accidents. Therefore, accountability should be aligned with those who actually operate vehicles.

The company said it will present its oral argument before the Supreme Court on March 4.

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