Statement Regarding Stevens Trucking Lawsuit
TQL was recently added to the latest version of the frivolous Stevens Trucking lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of Texas. Similar efforts to add TQL to related litigation have been unsuccessful because the claims lack legal merit.We reject the allegations and their inaccurate characterization of our business practices and the freight brokerage industry. Notably, three of the six carriers bringing these claims are licensed freight brokers themselves, which raises questions about their motivation and credibility.
Every carrier TQL works with is federally authorized and must meet additional insurance and qualification standards. The lawsuit is also wrong about how freight rates are determined. Rates are driven by market supply and demand and influenced by numerous factors, including customer requirements, geography, seasonality, equipment availability, shipment timelines, commodity type, volume and economic conditions.
It's also worth noting that much of the lawsuit focuses on Super Ego, a company TQL has not done business with in years. In addition, several of the plaintiffs bringing these claims are licensed freight brokers themselves, raising questions about their motivations.
More broadly, the allegations fail to reflect the fundamental realities of a competitive freight marketplace, where carriers, brokers and shippers make independent business decisions every day. We are confident these baseless allegations will not withstand scrutiny and that the facts support our position.
