On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous 9-0 decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC. The Court determined that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) does not preempt state-law negligence claims against freight brokers regarding motor vehicle safety. This decision significantly alters industry liability, as brokers can no longer use the FAAAA to shield themselves from lawsuits involving the negligent selection of carriers. Truckload spot rates climbed to new record levels in the days following, surpassing the historic peaks seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing near-shoring trends continue to shift freight capacity inland, tightening supply and supporting higher rates. The full effects of the SCOTUS ruling are expected to unfold gradually over the coming months and years. See more at: freightwaves.com “One Week After Landmark SCOTUS Ruling: Why Truckload Spot Rates....” by Craig Fuller, 5/23/2026)

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is preparing a coordinated effort to support the safe departure of merchant vessels currently stuck in the Persian Gulf and surrounding Middle East waters. The initiative stems from a request by the IMO Council, which has called for practical steps to protect seafarers and restore safe movement for commercial shipping amid ongoing regional tensions. According to the IMO, the proposed arrangement would function as a voluntary mechanism. It would fully respect the long-standing rights and freedoms of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law. The framework is designed for vessels covered by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) that are currently confined in the Persian Gulf and whose operators wish to leave the area. See more at: bairdmaritime.com “IMO develops plan for evacuation of ships from Middle East waters,” by Jens Karsten, 4/22/2026

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In response to ongoing restrictions and security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, global shipping leader CMA CGM has rolled out alternative, multimodal logistics solutions in the Middle East. These efforts also prioritize crew and employee safety in the region.  By leveraging a mix of sea, road, rail, and feeder services, the company is rerouting cargo through strategic ports south of the strait—including Khor Fakkan and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, Sohar in Oman, and Jeddah on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. These gateways enable more secure corridors to major UAE hubs like Khalifa, Jebel Ali, and Sharjah, while extending reliable road and maritime connections to key destinations across Saudi Arabia (including Dammam), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq-effectively bypassing the strait and maintaining...See more at: freightwaves.com “CMA CGM sets newHormuz land bypass routes,” by Stuart Chirls, 3/18/2026

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Ocean container shipping disruptions continue to rise in the Middle East, as a result of the ongoing Iran crisis. The Strait of Hormuz remains impassable for commercial traffic, forcing major carriers to suspend services, reroute vessels, and implement emergency measures. Maersk CEO, Vincent Clerc, stated in interviews with CNN and the Wall Street Journal that the closure has trapped 10 Maersk container ships in the Persian Gulf. These vessels "cannot get out" and are "stuck in the Upper Gulf," grouped offshore for crew safety. Clerc noted that even with a ceasefire, resuming normal operations would take 7–10 days. Maersk has paused bookings to/from affected ports in several Gulf states. Emergency surcharges and contingency rerouting via alternate hubs are in place. (See more at: freightwaves.com “Ten Maersk ships ‘trapped’ in Persian Gulf,” by Stuart Chirls, 3/12/2026)

A Liberia-flagged Suezmax crude oil tanker, the Shenlong, has become the first vessel headed to India to successfully navigate the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in the region. The tanker, carrying 135,335 metric tons (about 1 million barrels) of Saudi Arabian crude oil, loaded at the Ras Tanura terminal on March 1, 2026, and set sail two days later. The crew turned off the vessel's Automatic Identification System (AIS) - a required VHF radio safety feature that continuously broadcasts the ship's position, speed, and other key data to nearby vessels and authorities for collision avoidance. The AIS signal went dark for several hours before reappearing on tracking platforms the next day. The Shenlong arrived at Mumbai Port on Wednesday, March 12. The cargo will be…(More at: itln.in, “First India-bound crude tanker passes through Hormuz…3/12/2026)

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The killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes,alias "El Mencho", the longtime leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was confirmed by Mexican authorities following a military operation on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The raid took place in Tapalpa, Jalisco (a rural area southwest of Guadalajara). This marks a major blow to the CJNG, one of Mexico's most powerful and violent cartels, known for fentanyl trafficking, extortion, fuel theft, and aggressive territorial control. In the hours that followed, burning vehicles known as “narco-blockages” were used to shut down key roadways in western Mexico, which service manufacturing hubs and freight routes. The shutdown of operations at The Port of Manzanillo was labeled as “temporary” leading to confusion for carriers and brokers managing container freight shipments. (More at: freightwaves, “Cartel boss killing jolts US-Mexico freight…by Noi Mahoney, 2/22/2026)

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