🚚 Verdict Overturned

Freight Day! 👋 We’re starting the day with a significant legal update in the freight industry. The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a $100 million jury verdict against Werner Enterprises and its driver, Shiraz A. Ali, in connection to a deadly crash near Odessa in 2014.
The Court ruled that Werner and Ali were not legally responsible for the accident, which occurred when a pickup truck lost control on icy roads. More ahead 👇

💬 More in Freight:
⚫️ Cross-Border Rates Spike
⚫️ Non-Domiciled CDL Holders
⚫️ Will Trump Re-Pause Tariffs?
⚫️ Mexico Emerging As Trade War Winner?
Cross-Border Rates Spike 📈

The ELP Mandate just went into effect - This is the English Language Proficiency rule, and it’s already causing ripple effects in cross-border freight.
Matt Silver at Cargado shared a post last week showing a sharp spike in northbound Mexico lane rates, as many B1 drivers are scrambling to meet the new requirements. In Laredo, there’s been a surge in driver training programs aiming to help impacted drivers stay compliant and on the road.
Make no mistake — this is going to affect both capacity and pricing in the coming weeks.
Non-Domiciled CDL Holders ❌

The Trump administration has announced a sweeping package of pro-trucker reforms, headlined by a nationwide audit of non-domiciled CDL holders to target unqualified drivers and tighten federal oversight.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed the initiative during an appearance on FreightWaves’ WHAT THE TRUCK?!?. “We’re putting American drivers first,” he said, citing concerns about non-domiciled CDLs—commercial licenses issued to non-residents or foreign nationals—excluding Canada and Mexico.
The audit, ordered by President Trump in April, will be carried out by FMCSA to investigate how states issue these CDLs and identify any patterns of abuse.
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What Else Is Moving 🚚
Texas Supreme Court Overturns $100 Verdict 🏛️
In a landmark decision, the Texas Supreme Court reversed a $100 million jury verdict against Werner Enterprises and its driver, Shiraz A. Ali, stemming from a 2014 crash near Odessa. The Court ruled that Werner and Ali were not legally responsible for the deadly accident, which occurred when a pickup truck lost control on icy roads, crossed a 42-foot median, and struck Werner’s truck.
Background
The crash killed seven-year-old Zackery Blake and severely injured Jennifer Blake and her children. In 2018, a Houston jury assigned 84% of the blame to Werner and Ali and awarded tens of millions in damages to the Blake family.

Appeal and Supreme Court Ruling
Werner appealed, and although a divided appellate court upheld the verdict, the Texas Supreme Court reversed that decision on June 27, 2025. Writing for the Court, Chief Justice Blacklock found that while the truck may have contributed to the outcome, it was not the proximate cause of the injuries. The key fact: Werner’s truck was lawfully traveling below the speed limit in its lane when the pickup suddenly crossed into its path.
The Court emphasized that being present at the scene—or even driving too fast for conditions—is not enough for liability unless the conduct was a “substantial factor” in causing the harm. The justices concluded that the sole proximate cause was the pickup truck’s loss of control, not anything Ali or Werner did.
Legal Significance
This ruling draws a sharp line between creating a condition for harm and being responsible for it. It sets a precedent narrowing liability for trucking companies in cases involving unpredictable events like vehicles crossing medians during severe weather.
By focusing on the limits of proximate cause, the Court clarified that defendants can't be held liable for tragic accidents they had no realistic ability to prevent.
FREIGHT SNIPPETS ✂️
🇺🇸 Global Tariffs | President Trump says he won’t extend the 90-day tariff pause beyond July 9, warning that countries without trade deals with the U.S. will soon face tariffs of 10% to 50%. “We’ll look at how a country treats us,” he told Fox News, adding that letters announcing the tariffs will go out “pretty soon.” Trump acknowledged the difficulty of striking deals with 200 countries, despite setting an initial goal of 90 deals in 90 days. Read more.
🚛 Charged With Embezzlement | A former Montway Auto Transport employee is facing felony charges for allegedly embezzling over $166,000 using peer-to-peer payment apps. Jason Garza, 45, was arraigned in Plymouth, MI, on six felony counts, including three for embezzlement and three for using a computer to commit a crime. While working at Montway in 2021–2022, Garza allegedly offered unauthorized discounts and directed customers to pay him directly via mobile apps—keeping the money for himself. The case was referred to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office by the FBI. AG Dana Nessel said her office is committed to holding fraudsters accountable. Read more.
🚧 Interstate 40 Reopens | Crews reopened a stretch of Interstate 40 through the Great Smoky Mountains on Friday, nine days after flooding and a rockslide forced its closure. The affected section—straddling far western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee—was already undergoing major repairs from Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread washouts last fall. Currently, traffic is limited to one lane in each direction. Read more.
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Let Talento be the partner that helps build a dream team and scale smarter, faster, and limitless.
🇲🇽 Global Trade War Winner? | Mexico is emerging as a major winner from the U.S. tariff hike, thanks to its USMCA status and growing nearshoring trends. While average U.S. tariffs have surged to 28% for many countries, most Mexican imports remain duty-free. Uber Freight’s Jose Guerrero says nearshoring isn’t slowing down, with rising Chinese investment in Mexico and strong U.S. demand keeping trade active. In April, Mexico topped all U.S. trade partners with $69.7B in commerce. Read more.
🅿️ Truck Parking | Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a $275 million grant program aimed at expanding truck parking and rolling back regulations—marking the first phase of President Donald Trump’s trucking reform agenda. “Truckers keep America moving,” Duffy said during the announcement at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Read more.
🔋 Tesla Semi Trials | Thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services has logged over 5,000 miles testing Tesla’s electric semi truck in winter conditions, as the 3PL provider accelerates efforts to reach net-zero emissions. In a June 26 statement, the company said it completed a pilot program using Tesla’s EV semi at its California logistics hub to evaluate the truck’s performance and efficiency. Tesla claims the vehicle can travel up to 500 miles on a single charge and recover 70% of its range in just 30 minutes with a branded semi charger. Read more.
Pallets of News 🚛
U.S. & China Agree On Trade Deal 🇺🇸🤝🇨🇳

The U.S. has reached a trade framework agreement with China, marking a notable development in their ongoing economic relationship, according to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. While China has yet to formally confirm the deal, the agreement focuses heavily on rare-earth materials—vital for both tech and defense.
President Trump stated that China has agreed to supply “full magnets and any necessary rare earths” to the U.S., though reports indicate Beijing may not guarantee clearance for all specialized exports. In return, the U.S. will ease certain export restrictions on Chinese goods.
The agreement followed a series of intense negotiations, including meetings in Geneva and a two-day summit in London. China’s Commerce Ministry said it will “review and approve” export applications for controlled items, while the U.S. plans to relax some trade limits.
MEME OF THE DAY 😂
