Amazon Faces Carrier Safety Lawsuit Over New Mexico Crash

A lawsuit over a fatal New Mexico crash is scrutinizing Amazon Relay carrier safety. The legal action claims Amazon permitted Road Warriors Logistic to transport freight despite the carrier not meeting Amazon's own compliance requirements.

A tractor-trailer operated by Road Warriors Logistic crossed the median in New Mexico, struck another truck, and caused serious injuries, leading to a careless driving citation. The collision occurred on Oct. 25, 2024, in New Mexico. Harmanpreet Singh was driving a Road Warriors tractor pulling an Amazon trailer when he lost control, crossed the median, and entered opposing traffic. The truck struck another commercial truck before jackknifing across both eastbound lanes, colliding with the plaintiffs’ vehicles and causing serious injuries. New Mexico State Police cited the truck’s driver for careless driving after the collision. The investigating officer wrote that the truck crossed the median 'for unknown reasons'.

Amazon’s Relay requirements and Road Warriors’ eligibility

Despite Amazon’s 180-day active operating authority rule, Road Warriors Logistic hauled Amazon freight shortly after its authority was reinstated in May 2024, having only about two months of compliance by July. The plaintiffs allege Amazon allowed Road Warriors Logistic to transport freight before the carrier met Amazon’s requirement for 180 days of active operating authority. Road Warriors Logistic received operating authority in May 2021. Its operating authority was involuntarily revoked in May 2022. The carrier had its authority reinstated on May 8, 2024. By July 2024, Road Warriors Logistic was hauling Amazon Relay freight. Amazon’s public 2023 Relay requirements specify a minimum of 180 days of active operating authority.

Pattern of safety and compliance issues prior to the crash

In the months before the Oct. 25 collision, Road Warriors Logistic faced multiple safety violations, hours of service concerns, and a prior crash while hauling for Amazon Relay. The plaintiffs cite hours of service violations in July and August 2024. They also cite six vehicle maintenance violations on Sept. 13, 2024. A Sept. 30, 2024 crash occurred while Road Warriors Logistic was operating for Amazon Relay. An unsafe driving violation and three maintenance violations occurred on that same day. Another unsafe driving violation allegedly occurred on Oct. 7, 2024, just 18 days before the Oct. 25 crash. The plaintiffs contend warning signs continued after Road Warriors began hauling Amazon loads.

Plaintiffs’ allegations of Amazon’s control and oversight failure

The complaint claims Amazon exerted significant control over Road Warriors’ operations and should have investigated its safety fitness given ongoing warning signs. The plaintiffs allege Amazon exercised extensive control over transportation through load assignments, delivery appointments, routing expectations, performance monitoring, and the ability to restrict access to future freight. They also allege Amazon personnel intervened when shipments were delayed, communicating with drivers and dispatchers, changing schedules, and arranging replacement equipment or drivers. The plaintiffs argue the available safety information should have prompted Amazon to investigate Road Warriors' safety fitness before continuing to entrust it with freight. The allegations in the complaint have not been established by the complaint itself.

Expert perspective on carrier vetting and liability

Cassandra Gaines, a transportation safety expert and founder of Carrier Assure, emphasizes the need for written, enforceable rules in broker-carrier relationships. Gaines is a transportation attorney and expert witness specializing in broker liability and carrier selection. She developed the CAVRA Carrier Vetting Industry Standard and is the founder and CEO of Carrier Assure. She was previously recognized by Business Insider as one of its '100 People Transforming Business in North America'.

Gaines stresses the importance of clear policies. "A written policy gives employees a rule to follow and gives a jury a rule to measure them against," Gaines said. She also advises companies to ensure their rules are practical. "Write rules your business can actually follow, train the people assigning freight and make the escalation decision before the load moves," Gaines said. The amended complaint against Amazon was filed in July.