The transportation industry has evolved from a highly regulated sector into a dynamic and innovative service market essential to vital just-in-time deliveries and integrated supply chains.
Thompson Hine is rated at the top of our profession in the United States for the representation of shippers in rail and motor carrier matters by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, based on interviews with clients and peers. We understand both the regulatory settings and the commercial complexities affecting domestic and multimodal international transportation of cargo.
We provide a broad range of services to clients in the industry and handle a variety of matters concerning commercial, regulatory, litigation, legislative and policy issues involving the transportation of goods by rail, truck, vessel, aircraft and pipeline. We also counsel clients on matters of homeland security and transportation of hazardous materials as those issues continue to have an increasing impact on their businesses.
Our highly regarded automotive practice serves a broad spectrum of U.S. and international automobile OEMs, suppliers, ridesharing enterprises, startups and technology companies. We represent the industry in a wide variety of regulatory, litigation and general business matters, including safety and environmental, NHTSA regulatory and compliance, government investigations and product liability cases involving catastrophic personal injuries. Our bench combines both legal and technical resources and problem-solving to our work, which is unique among law firms.
Manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers that import or export products must contend with a host of transportation-related regulatory issues. Our Transportation team works hand in hand with our International Trade lawyers to provide a holistic approach to assisting clients in getting their goods where they need to go. Visit our International Trade pages to learn more about how we can assist you.
We represent clients in a broad range of administrative and regulatory matters before the following government agencies:
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Federal Highway Administration (FHA)
- Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- Surface Transportation Board (STB)
We advise clients across all major modes of transportation and types of commodities. Our clients include bulk and non-bulk shippers, intermediaries and carriers. Examples of past and present clients include:
- Bulk-commodity shippers (electric utilities, agricultural companies, metals companies, petro-chemical companies, coal companies)
- Industry trade associations
- Manufacturers
- Motor carriers
- Retail companies
- Short-line railroads
- State and local government interests
- Transportation intermediaries (motor freight forwarders, motor carrier brokers, intermodal marketing companies, third-party logistics companies, non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarders)
Why choose Thompson Hine for your transportation legal needs?
- Our lawyers are nationally rated at the top of their profession for representation of shippers in rail and motor carrier matters by Chambers USA, based on interviews with clients and peers.
- Through more than 50 years of representing The National Industrial Transportation League, the nation’s oldest and largest trade association for shippers and individual companies across industry lines, our lawyers have been at the center of virtually every major freight transportation issue.
- Our lawyers have in-depth experience in all aspects of freight transportation transactions, including contract negotiation, interpretation and performance; service problems; safety and economic regulation, compliance and enforcement; and dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
- Our experience extends to all four transportation modes (i.e. motor, rail, water and air) and to shippers, carriers and transportation intermediaries such as brokers, forwarders, NVOCCs, and 3PLs.
- Our lawyers have strong relationships with government transportation agencies and are among the leaders in national transportation bar associations.
- We use a multi-disciplinary approach to address our clients’ needs. When your transportation issues overlap with other areas of law (e.g. corporate, environmental, labor, litigation, real estate), we draw on the experience of Thompson Hine lawyers in these other fields.
- Our firm recognizes the importance of making client service our focus in everything we do. Our Client Service Pledge details this commitment and what our clients can expect from us.
Please fill out this form if you'd like to subscribe to any of the electronic newsletters and alerts we publish on developments in many areas of the law, legislative and regulatory changes, and industry trends.
FMC Proposes to Permit Service Contract Filings up to 30 Days After the Effective Date - Transportation Update
January 22, 2021
FAA Issues Final Rule on Remote Drone Identification - Transportation Update
January 19, 2021
FAA Allows Drone Operations Over People and at Night - Transportation Update
January 19, 2021
STB Rulemaking Could Reduce Captive Rail Shipper Protections - Transportation Update
January 05, 2021
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021: Implications for Business - COVID-19 Update
December 30, 2020
STB Institutes Rulemaking for Small Rate Dispute Voluntary Arbitration Program - Transportation Update
December 02, 2020
FMC Expands Investigation of Ocean Carrier Alliance Practices in U.S. Ports - Transportation Update
November 25, 2020
FMC Extends Service Contract Exemption and Issues Ocean Carrier Billing Practice NOI - Transportation Update
October 14, 2020
FMCSA Proposes New Driver Hours of Service and Age Limit Pilot Programs - Transportation Update
October 09, 2020
Railroads Seek Changes in Revenue Adequacy Determinations - Transportation Update
September 03, 2020
STB Issues Final Rule on Market Dominance Pleadings - Transportation Update
August 05, 2020
STB Authorizes Ex Parte Communications in Final Offer Rate Review Proceeding - Transportation Update
May 21, 2020
FMCSA Amends Its Driver Hours of Service Rules - Transportation Update
May 19, 2020
STB Issues Demurrage Policy and Direct-Billing Rule; Proposes Billing Requirement Modifications - Transportation Update
May 01, 2020
FMC Issues Final Guidance on Unreasonable Demurrage and Detention Practices to Improve Ocean Freight Fluidity - Transportation Update
April 30, 2020
Petitions by Vehicle Producers for Alternative Staging Regime for Compliance with USMCA Rules of Origin for Automotive Goods Due to USTR by July 1 - International Trade Update
April 24, 2020
COVID-19 Results in FRA and PHMSA Issuing Regulatory Waivers and Non-Enforcement Guidance - COVID-19 Update
April 13, 2020
FMC to Address COVID-19 Port Congestion by Engaging Industry Stakeholders - COVID-19 Update
April 02, 2020
FMCSA Temporarily Extends Commercial Drivers’ Licenses, Permits and Medical Certifications - COVID-19 Update
March 30, 2020
CARES Act: Implications for Businesses - COVID-19 Update
March 28, 2020
Stay-at-Home Orders: Q&A for Businesses with Transportation Operations - COVID-19 Update
March 24, 2020
NHTSA Proposes Easing Certain Regulatory Requirements for Self-Driving Vehicles - Transportation Update
March 23, 2020
Chemical Industry Regulatory Update – March 2020 - A Newsletter from The Adhesive and Sealant Council and Thompson Hine LLP
March 20, 2020
FMCSA Expands Emergency Regulatory Relief for Truck Transportation of Essential Supplies, Equipment, and Persons - COVID-19 Update
March 19, 2020
STB Addresses Application of Demurrage Regulation to Rail Transportation of Exempt Commodities and Boxcar Shipments - Transportation Update
March 02, 2020
The Coronavirus Threatens U.S. Company Supply Chains - Practical Tips and Contract Considerations to Manage Risk - Transportation Update
February 25, 2020
Chemical Industry Regulatory Update – February 2020 - A Newsletter from The Adhesive and Sealant Council and Thompson Hine LLP
February 18, 2020
FMC Declines to Eliminate Service Contract Filing Requirements for Ocean Carriers - Transportation Update
January 16, 2020
Chemical Industry Regulatory Update - January 2020 - A Newsletter from The Adhesive and Sealant Council and Thompson Hine LLP
January 10, 2020
FAA Releases Long-Awaited Proposed Drone Remote Identification Rule - Transportation Update
January 06, 2020
Chemical Industry Regulatory Update - November 2019 - A Newsletter from The Adhesive and Sealant Council and Thompson Hine LLP
November 10, 2019
Chemical Industry Regulatory Update – October 2019 - A Newsletter from The Adhesive and Sealant Council and Thompson Hine LLP
October 10, 2019
STB Acts on Concerns Over Unreasonable Rail Demurrage and Accessorial Rules and Charges - Transportation Update
October 09, 2019
FMC Proposes Guidance Clarifying How It Will Assess Unreasonable Ocean Demurrage and Detention Practices - Transportation Update
September 17, 2019
STB Proposes Rail Rate Review Reforms and Announces Revenue Adequacy Hearing - Transportation Update
September 16, 2019
STB Declines to Address Safe Harbor for Railroad Fuel Surcharges - Transportation Update
September 04, 2019
FMCSA Proposes Changes to Hours of Service Rules for Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers - Transportation Update
September 03, 2019
Appeals Court Affirms Denial of Fuel Surcharge Class Certification - Transportation Update
August 16, 2019
FMCSA Seeks Information on CMV Driver Detention Times During Loading and Unloading - Transportation Update
July 25, 2019
STB Issues Notice of Public Hearing for Demurrage and Accessorial Charges - Transportation Update
April 09, 2019
STB Announces Hearing on Railroad Demurrage and Accessorial Charges - Transportation Update
March 21, 2019
AAR Seeks Restrictions on STB Regulatory Authority - Transportation Update
March 19, 2019
DOT Issues New Rule for Air Transport of Lithium Batteries - Transportation Update
March 06, 2019
FAA to Seek Comments on Measures to Address Drone Risks - Transportation Update
February 07, 2019
FMC Issues Final Report on Demurrage and Detention Practices - Transportation Update
January 18, 2019
FAA Proposes Rules Allowing Drone Flights Over People and at Night - Transportation Update
January 16, 2019
Hazardous Materials Shippers May Benefit from Recent Regulatory Changes - Transportation Update
November 08, 2018
FMC Seeks Comments on Petition for Exemption from Service Contract Filing Requirements - Transportation Update
September 25, 2018
Recent Federal Maritime Commission Developments - Transportation Update
September 11, 2018
FMCSA Seeks Comments on Changes to Hours of Service Rules - Transportation Update
August 24, 2018
FMC Amends NVOCC Negotiated Rate Arrangements and Service Arrangements Rules - Transportation Update
July 31, 2018
FMC Investigating Detention, Demurrage and Free Time Practices in International Oceanborne Commerce - Transportation Update
April 16, 2018
STB Stakeholder Meetings on Adequacy of Emergency Service Regulations - Transportation Update
March 16, 2018