On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s broad “Liberation Day” tariffs, a move that sent transportation and logistics stocks higher. The Court ruled 6–3 that Trump had overstepped his power by using emergency legislation to impose wide-ranging tariffs on imports. This decision removes the 10% tariff on many goods as well as extra duties on industrial materials like steel, aluminum, and auto parts—items that directly affect truck makers, repair shops, and shippers.
For the trucking industry, this means a clearer and more stable trade environment. Lower tariffs should encourage more trade and freight movement over time, which generally benefits fleets and increases profits. But there’s a catch. More freight means more trucks on the road, which ups the risk for insurers, especially in areas known for large liability payouts influenced by social inflation and nuclear verdicts.
The ruling doesn’t erase all trade risks, though. The government can still use narrower tools to target specific products or countries. So, tariff changes and shifts in supply chains remain a possibility.
Even before the Supreme Court’s decision, long-haul trucking was experiencing a shift. Jatinder Bassi, president of Echelon Insurance, shared in late 2025 that fleets were moving away from north-south cross-border routes to more east-west domestic corridors. This shift adjusts the risk picture, with domestic routes gaining importance alongside international ones. Because of this, insurers now face a more varied and complicated landscape to cover.
For those providing insurance to trucking fleets, the ruling changes the kind of risks they face rather than cutting them. Freight volumes and the value of cargo carried could rise along key routes as imports become cheaper and trade relations stabilize. This growth adds risk, but it also gives trucking companies more money to invest in safety and better equipment. Route patterns might shift again too if cross-border lanes become more attractive again. Plus, changes in the types of goods shipped will affect potential insurance claims.
In this environment, it’s harder to rely on average loss data. Insurers will look more closely at how individual fleets manage safety, technology, and operations.
Bassi highlighted that strong risk management is what really stands out in the trucking world, not just pricing. His team focuses on safety culture, driver screening and training, the use of telematics, vehicle maintenance, and analyzing loss history to spot well-run fleets versus riskier ones.
If freight flows pick up and costs come down, the gap between safer, better-managed fleets and those struggling to keep up could grow larger. Stronger companies may update their trucks, adopt more technology, and improve safety procedures. Weaker operators may push for volume at the cost of proper maintenance and driver rest, which usually leads to more accidents and bigger claims.
Overall, the Supreme Court’s decision reshapes the trucking and insurance landscape, offering some opportunities but also new challenges. The way fleets manage risk and safety will become more important than ever in determining their success.