TQL and C.H. Robinson Face Federal Racketeering Allegations Over Carrier Network
TQL, C.H. Robinson accused of racketeering tied to illegal carrier network
Six motor carriers have filed a federal lawsuit accusing freight brokers TQL and C.H. Robinson of working with a network of allegedly illegal carriers to undercut legitimate trucking companies and divert freight.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Marshall, alleges violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as RICO. The carriers claim the brokers participated in a coordinated scheme involving Super Ego-affiliated trucking companies, which they describe as “chameleon carriers.”
The allegations have not been proven. The lawsuit is a civil complaint, and there has been no determination of liability. C.H. Robinson strongly denies the claims. TQL did not respond to requests for comment included in the provided material.
The plaintiffs are Stevens Trucking Co.; Western Flyer Express LLC; D&M Carriers LLC, doing business as Freymiller Trucking; IWX Motor Freight LLC; Christenson Transportation Inc.; and E.O.S. Inc.
What the carriers allege
The complaint says the decline of lawful, asset-based trucking operations was driven in part by a relationship between large brokers and carriers that allegedly operated through changing company names, DOT numbers and corporate identities.
The plaintiffs refer to those companies as “illegal carriers,” alleging that some used false addresses, carried inadequate insurance, recruited and exploited foreign drivers, violated safety rules and manipulated electronic logging devices. The complaint further alleges that TQL and C.H. Robinson knowingly used those carriers to obtain cheaper transportation capacity.
According to the filing, the brokers used their load boards and carrier representatives to place freight with Super Ego-related companies. The plaintiffs claim that the practice allowed the brokers to offer shippers unusually low rates while pushing legitimate carriers out of the market.
The complaint also alleges that TQL and C.H. Robinson sometimes appeared as the carrier on bills of lading, even when the freight was physically hauled by another company. The plaintiffs argue that this arrangement allowed the brokers to benefit from clean safety records while avoiding the consequences that could follow crashes or violations involving the actual trucking companies.
Documents cited in the complaint allegedly show TQL listed as the carrier on bills of lading from 2023 and 2024, as well as a C.H. Robinson bill of lading from this year. The carriers also claim that inspections involving trucks listing TQL as the carrier produced out-of-service violations at a higher rate.
Driver allegations and the Super Ego network
The complaint relies on statements from six confidential witnesses who allegedly drove for Trytime Transport and other Super Ego-affiliated fleets. The witnesses described companies that changed names and DOT numbers, required drivers to exceed federal hours-of-service limits, manipulated electronic logging devices and imposed low pay or additional debt when drivers objected.
Separate reporting cited in the complaint linked Trytime Transport to Prime Route. An analysis by Central Analysis Bureau found that the two fleets shared 33 vehicle identification numbers recorded during roadside inspections. Those vehicles represented 44% of Prime Route’s 75 reported units, according to the information provided.
The complaint also references video and driver testimony involving alleged electronic logging device manipulation. Those allegations remain disputed and have not been adjudicated in the lawsuit.
For drivers, the case highlights the risks created when a load is passed through multiple companies without clear disclosure. In a legitimate broker-carrier transaction, the carrier accepting the load is expected to operate under its own authority and meet the agreed insurance, equipment and safety requirements. When freight is transferred without the shipper’s knowledge, the arrangement can create confusion over who is responsible for the driver, the cargo, payment and compliance.
Broker responses
Dorothy Capers, C.H. Robinson’s chief legal officer, said the company rejects the allegations and what she called the complaint’s inaccurate description of the company’s business practices and the freight market.
“All the carriers we work with are authorized by the federal government, plus meet additional safety standards and higher levels of insurance than legally required,” Capers said. She added that the Super Ego-related carriers the company worked with each had individual operating authority and were in good standing with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at the time. She said those carriers are no longer part of C.H. Robinson’s network.
Capers also disputed the idea that brokers simply choose the cheapest available carrier. She said carrier selection considers factors including proximity, equipment, size, certifications, customer requirements, sustainability and service levels. She further argued that freight prices are shaped by market conditions rather than set unilaterally by brokers.
The complaint points to C.H. Robinson’s 2025 Carrier of the Year recognition for Super Ego and TQL’s designation of Super Ego-linked carriers Sam Express and Tutash Express as “Elite Carriers.” Those recognitions are cited by the plaintiffs as evidence of the brokers’ relationships with the network.
Legal hurdles ahead
Transportation attorney Dan Artaev said the plaintiffs face a substantial burden under RICO. To prevail, they would generally need to establish more than unfair competition or the use of low-cost carriers. They would need to prove an organized enterprise, a pattern of qualifying criminal conduct and a direct injury connected to that conduct.
The defendants could ask the court to dismiss the case, including by arguing that the motor carriers lack standing or did not suffer the type of direct harm required for a RICO claim. If the case survives dismissal, discovery could require TQL and C.H. Robinson to produce communications and records involving the Super Ego-related fleets.
That process could bring greater scrutiny to carrier onboarding, load-board practices, bills of lading, safety reviews and payment arrangements. For now, however, the complaint contains allegations only. No court has ruled that TQL or C.H. Robinson operated an illegal carrier network, violated RICO or defrauded their customers.
