Podcast: Fallout from trucking nuclear verdicts hits all Americans' wallets
Lawsuit abuse was listed as the second-highest concern among fleet executives in 2025, second only to the economy. It's pretty clear that nuclear and thermonuclear verdicts against carriers have gotten out of hand, but there's one thing you might not know: we're all footing the bill.
According to new research from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), those lawsuits against carriers are hindering the U.S. economy. In the latest report on commercial auto tort costs' impact on the economy, researchers found that if states reduced commercial auto tort costs over 10 years, it could increase annual GDP by $52.3 billion and create 5.7 million additional jobs. But if these verdicts continue unabated, they have an inflationary effect on things like your weekly grocery bill. Trucking touches more than 70% of goods, so when their costs go up, everybody else's do too.
Download the full report HERE
To get to the bottom of what is really happening and if anything can be done about it, John Hitch, editor-in-chief of Fleet Maintenance, invited Nick Lucas, executive director for research and data analytics at the ILR, to discuss the study and the tort environment as a whole.
Catch this episode of The Fleet Lead podcast here or search for The Fleet Lead on your favorite podcast app.
Timestamps:
- 5:11 - Overview of the commercial auto tort cost study
- 7:00 - How litigation impacts everyday prices
- 18:45 - Reducing tort costs have economic benefits
- 24:00 - Third-party litigation funding and transparency
- 30:15 - The need for systemic safeguards
About the Author
John Hitch
Editor-in-chief, Fleet Maintenance
John Hitch is the award-winning editor-in-chief of Fleet Maintenance, where his mission is to provide maintenance leaders and technicians with the the latest information on tools, strategies, and best practices to keep their fleets' commercial vehicles moving.
He is based out of Cleveland, Ohio, and has worked in the B2B journalism space for more than a decade. Hitch was previously senior editor for FleetOwner and before that was technology editor for IndustryWeek and and managing editor of New Equipment Digest.
Hitch graduated from Kent State University and was editor of the student magazine The Burr in 2009.
The former sonar technician served honorably aboard the fast-attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), where he participated in counter-drug ops, an under-ice expedition, and other missions he's not allowed to talk about for several more decades.