🎣 TQL Transparency Fight

Happy Monday. A 2023 ice cream haul turned legal fight may redefine broker-carrier rights. TQL wants it dismissed. Pink Cheetah isn’t backing down. We cover the details in today's feature.

Plus:

• 🌧 Storms Flood Midwest, South
• 🚫 California Fights Tariffs
• 🚗 Automakers Slash Prices
• and more...

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🐔 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT

🌧 Relentless Storms Hit the Midwest and South, Triggering Floods and Fatal Crashes. A powerful storm system sweeping across the Midwest and South has caused over 400 crashes in Minnesota—including a fatal semi-truck collision—and unleashed historic flooding in states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. In Minnesota, one man died after losing control of his pickup and hitting a semi, while dozens more were injured on icy roads. Meanwhile, torrential rains have pushed rivers, including the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers, past flood stage, submerging homes and prompting evacuations. Notably, this marks only the second time in 28 years that the Ohio River flood stage has reached 60 feet. At least 18 deaths have been reported due to storm-related incidents. With more rain expected, emergency crews remain on high alert, and road closures are likely to impact freight routes across affected regions.

🚫 California Pushes Back as Tariffs Threaten Trade and Ports. Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking tariff exemptions and initiating informal trade talks with allies to shield California from economic fallout amid Trump’s proposed import levies. As the world’s fifth-largest economy, California faces heightened risks, especially in agriculture and manufacturing. Newsom aims to reassure trade partners that the state remains a stable and reliable player. Meanwhile, Port of Los Angeles Director Gene Seroka warns of a 10% drop in container volume due to frontloaded inventories and rising prices from tariffs. “It’s my view that the second half of this year, beginning July 1 through the end of the year, we’re going to start to see a drop in cargo [year over year],” said Seroka. Importers now face tough choices: shifting sourcing, cutting costs, or passing expenses to consumers, further straining California’s supply chains and global competitiveness.

🚗 Automakers React Swiftly to Tariff Shock with Cuts and Discounts. Nissan has halted U.S. orders for its Mexican-made vehicles following President Trump’s 25% car import tariff while preserving Rogue production in Tennessee. The move is part of a broader crisis response amid slumping profits, leadership changes, and a failed Honda alliance. “We are reviewing our production and supply chain operations to identify optimal solutions for efficiency and sustainability,” Nissan said. “The company currently has ample inventory at our U.S. retailers that is unaffected by the new tariffs.” Meanwhile, Stellantis, Hyundai, and Ford are rolling out major discounts and price freezes to ease consumer anxiety and prevent sales drops. Automakers are bracing for supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and potential impacts on freight demand for cross-border parts and finished vehicles.

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Feature Story

A small Florida-based carrier is taking on one of the biggest names in freight brokerage, and everyone should be watching.

Pink Cheetah Express v. Total Quality Logistics (TQL) was filed in federal court in D.C. in February. Pink Cheetah alleges that TQL refused to comply with federal broker transparency rules, even after a direct order from FMCSA.

🎣 Broker Battlelines

Plus, a tragic trucking accident, stakeholders raise alarms on Chinese ships fees, and a new dispatcher AI for carriers.

FreightCaviarAdriana Pulley

This David-and-Goliath legal battle, spotlighted by attorney Matthew Leffler, centers around Section 371.3 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a rule that gives carriers the right to see what brokers charge shippers for loads they haul.

“This is among the most important lawsuits in freight brokerage and could impact tens of thousands of brokers in the U.S.” — Matthew Leffler, The Armchair Attorney

The Contract

In January 2023, Pink Cheetah hauled a load of ice cream from Indiana to Ohio. They were paid $1,500, including layover, but wanted to see what TQL charged the shipper.

TQL refused, citing a 2019 broker-carrier agreement in which Pink Cheetah allegedly waived their right to access transaction records. But that waiver directly conflicted with federal law, so Pink Cheetah pushed back.

An FMCSA investigation followed. In November 2023, the agency ordered TQL to comply and ditch waiver clauses in future contracts. TQL eventually handed over the ice cream records, revealing it kept 44% of the shipper’s payment—far above the industry average broker margin of 14%-16%.

The Lawsuit’s Demands

Pink Cheetah is now suing to:

• Compel TQL to release unredacted records for 14 additional loads
• Remove the waiver clause from its contracts entirely
• Enforce FMCSA’s transparency order across TQL’s network

What's New?

TQL wants the case thrown out and filed a motion for dismissal on April 4th. Leffler outlines their arguments:

• Wrong court: The contract says all disputes must be heard in Ohio
• No standing: Pink Cheetah’s authority was revoked in 2023
• No legal basis: 49 USC §14704 doesn’t apply here, they argue
• They waived it: The waiver clause is valid, TQL claims
• No real harm: Pink Cheetah didn’t prove actual damages

Why It Matters

Broker rate transparency has been back in the spotlight and this case lands right as the industry awaits FMCSA's next move.

Just two weeks ago, the comment period closed on the FMCSA’s proposed rulemaking that could reshape how brokers share transaction records. The proposal includes:

• A requirement for brokers to keep electronic records
• A 48-hour deadline to provide those records to carriers
• A ban on waiver clauses that let brokers sidestep transparency

Now, Pink Cheetah’s lawsuit becomes a real-world test case for what happens when FMCSA rules clash with private contracts. If the court sides with Pink Cheetah, thousands of brokers could be forced to strip transparency waivers from their contracts and rethink how they handle carrier record requests.

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🌎 AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB

📉 Markets in Meltdown. Global stock markets are plunging following Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement last week. From Hong Kong (-13.6%) to Germany (-6.8%), investor panic is rippling across continents.

😔 Tesla Semi Delayed. The Tesla Semi Electric Truck Program has been hit with delays and a steep price increase. The previously priced $180,000 500-mile version is now estimated to cost nearly $400,000. Additionally, the original 42 planned units for 2025 have been reduced to just 16.

⚡ First Customer. ReVolt’s extended-range electric semi-trucks have landed their first customer. The hybrid electric semi promises 40% better fuel economy while delivering twice the torque of a traditional diesel-powered semi.

🥚 Egg Heroes. Turkey and Mexico played pivotal roles in easing the U.S. egg crisis. Import data from February 2025 shows a combined $6 million worth of eggs were imported from the two countries.

🛠 Delta Expanding. Taiwan-based Delta Electronics is investing $115 million in a new factory in Plano. The plans include a three-story manufacturing facility and a four-story office building, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

👗 Fashion Woes. Various sectors of the fashion industry are taking steps to soften the blow of impending tariffs. “While tariffs can be a useful tool in addressing unfair trade practices, they disproportionately impact the fashion industry,” the United States Fashion Industry Association said in a statement.

🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER

• The FreightCaviar Podcast: In this week’s episode of the FreightCaviar Podcast, we sat down with Mikhail Rasner, CEO & President of MiRUnited. He reveals the surprising truth about private equity and its impact on freight and more. Catch the interview on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
• Freight Chronicles Podcast: Adam Blanchard dives into how he and his teams at Double Diamond Transport and Tanager Logistics are actively battling the rising tide of cargo theft and freight fraud, sharing their own impersonation story. Catch it on YouTube or Spotify.
• TIA Capital Ideas Conference: FreightCaviar will be in attendance at this year's conference, held April 9-12 in San Antonio. We hope to see you there at the biggest event for brokers. Register now.

FREIGHT HUMOR