Landstar CEO reports surge in agent interest following Montgomery ruling

Landstar System CEO Frank Lonegro revealed on July 28 that broker interest in joining the company’s independent agent network has surged in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II ruling. The landmark decision stripped away long-standing protections for freight brokers by allowing them to be sued under state law for negligently hiring unsafe trucking companies, reshaping the legal landscape for the industry. Lonegro emphasized that Landstar’s model—combining agent independence with the scale and safety infrastructure of a large network—has become more attractive than ever in this new environment. “Inbound interest and conversations with potential new agents has accelerated since the Montgomery decision was released,” he said during the company’s Q2 earnings call. “We believe the value proposition of becoming a Landstar independent agent has never been stronger.” The CEO highlighted safety, security, and service as critical differentiators for Landstar, positioning the company as a safer alternative for brokers navigating heightened legal risks. Landstar also reported a 18.2% revenue increase to $1.43 billion in Q2, up from $1.21 billion in the same period last year. Net income rose to $49 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, compared to $41.9 million and $1.20 per share in Q2 2025. The company added 68 net business capacity owners (BCOs)—independent owner-operator drivers—in Q2, marking the strongest quarterly growth since Q1 2022. Landstar’s carrier vetting process has intensified, with the number of approved carriers dropping 35% to 64,000 in Q2 from over 100,000 in Q2 2022. Chief Safety and Operations Officer Matt Miller attributed this to enhanced vetting through people, process, technology, and data. However, CFO Jim Todd cautioned that the post-Montgomery legal environment could embolden plaintiffs to pursue more cases against brokers, underscoring the importance of safety as a core priority. Landstar, ranked No. 12 on Transport Topics’ Top 100 for-hire carriers and No. 25 on its logistics companies list, continues to position itself as a leader in a rapidly evolving industry.