Plus, cargo theft risks spikes ahead of Memorial Day, April sees drop in freight, a Wisconsin carrier and brokerage file for bankruptcy, and more.
ATA and ACT Research report declines in U.S. truck tonnage and trailer orders in April, as economic uncertainty and tariff pressures stall recovery across freight and equipment markets.
Trucking firm Elite Carriers and brokerage affiliate ECI Inc. have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, joining three other entities owned by Kirk Ecklund in seeking protection.
Two men charged with murdering federal witness in massive staged truck crash scam targeting commercial carriers.
Federal prosecutors have filed new murder charges tied to one of the most elaborate insurance fraud schemes in recent trucking history. On April 25, a New Orleans grand jury indicted disbarred attorney Sean Alfortish and co-defendant Leon Parker in the 2020 murder of federal witness Cornelius Garrison, a participant-turned-informant in the staged truck crash operation dubbed Operation Sideswipe.
The latest indictment expands on a January case where Ryan Harris, also known as "Red," pleaded guilty to organizing Garrison’s murder. Now, prosecutors say Harris facilitated a meeting between Alfortish and Parker, who ultimately carried out and funded the killing to prevent Garrison from testifying. Harris is serving a 35-year sentence.
“Harris knew that, by arranging the meeting… he was assisting Alfortish and Parker’s scheme to murder Garrison,” the proffer stated.
The staged crash scheme, which dates back to at least 2011, involved intentionally colliding with commercial trucks, fleeing the scene, and filing fraudulent insurance claims. Participants included:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana reports:
Attorneys named in the superseding indictment include Vanessa Motta, her law firm, and Jason Giles of the King Firm—both allegedly central to the scam’s legal operations. Others, including Danny Keating and Damian Labeaud, have pleaded guilty but await sentencing.
Alfortish and Parker face charges including witness tampering through murder, conspiracy to retaliate against a witness, and causing death with a firearm. Their arraignment is scheduled for May 14. Prosecutors say more charges may be forthcoming, as the superseding indictment references unnamed attorneys "C" through "F" still under investigation.
Source: CDLLIFE | FreightWaves
U.S. carriers say foreign B-1 visa truck drivers are illegally hauling domestic loads, undercutting rates and pushing small operators out of business.
Truck drivers awarded $10.4M in lawsuit over unpaid freight revenue from Michigan carrier RSP Express.
Truck driver charged with manslaughter in Alabama crash after fatal rear-end collision; language barrier cited in investigation.
CVSA votes to place non-English-proficient truckers out of service, risking a sharp capacity drop in U.S. freight.
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