Penske En Banc Fight, Mexico Vehicle Exports Plunge, & Texas Carrier Sued Over Age Limits | The Morning Minute

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a closely watched federal appellate case with enormous disruptive potential for broker and carrier liability. The Fifth Circuit is now considering whether to grant an en banc hearing in⁠ a fatal crash case involving companies in the Penske network⁠ that centers on a double-brokered load and the question of control. The appellate court's ruling that Penske Logistics was liable for a subcontracted driver's actions has prompted the American Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association, and Trucking Industry Defense Association to file amicus briefs in support of the company's petition.

Next, we shift to the cross-border sector where⁠ Mexico's automotive export trade is flashing warning signs for North American freight flows⁠. While more than three-quarters of Mexico's light-vehicle exports still head to the U.S., September shipments plunged eleven point nine percent year over year to two hundred seventy-seven thousand units, with production falling even more sharply at fifteen point one percent. General Motors, Nissan, and Ford all posted double-digit declines, highlighting a widening gap between Mexico's domestic automotive market and its export-oriented manufacturing sector.

Finally, we cover⁠ federal discrimination charges against a Texas trucking company over age-based hiring restrictions⁠ allegedly tied to its insurance policy. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit against Pharr-based Trancasa USA Inc., alleging the company systematically rejected older driver applicants based on a commercial liability insurance policy that capped eligibility at age sixty-five. The lawsuit stems from a discrimination charge filed by Gilbert Cerda, a sixty-four-year-old truck driver with more than two decades of experience, who was told by a company recruiter he could not be hired because of his age.

⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠

⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices