A transportation law attorney provides counsel and strategic planning in all segments of the transportation industry. Representative industry clients may include motor carriers; the passenger, air, water and rail transportation segments of the transportation and logistics industries; and third-party logistics providers. More specifically, potential clients include private fleets, commercial vessels, airlines (both passenger and commercial), couriers, package, truckload, less-than-truckload, liquid and dry bulk carriers, public transit authorities and the barge and shipping industries. In addition to the direct suppliers, potential transportation clients include the users of such services; i.e., industry insurers, transportation brokers, freight forwarders and the like.

Transportation law attorneys must be prepared to provide solutions and legal advice in many areas including:

• cargo claims
• civil litigation
• compliance issues with existing federal and state laws
• emergency response and crisis management
• environmental law
• general corporate matters
• independent contractor issues
• insurance coverage
• Jones Act
• labor and employment law
• liability defense
• mergers, acquisitions and corporate structuring
• monitoring of proposed and pending legislation
• personal injury and property damage claims
• real estate transactions
• risk management
• taxation
• transportation and logistics contracts
• workers’ compensation

Regardless of a transportation company’s vigilance, there is always the potential for a crisis situation in the industry. Transportation law attorneys must be prepared to provide emergency response and crisis management services for their clients, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether the circumstance involves a significant accident, fire, explosion or chemical release, the first hours after such an event are critical from a liability management standpoint. Transportation attorneys work with their clients at every step to address the issues that may arise as a result of industrial accidents, personal injuries or other catastrophes.

An experienced transportation lawyer will be able to provide representation at both the state and federal court levels and is experienced in all of the issues related to the challenges of delivering, transporting and receiving commercial goods in intrastate, interstate and foreign commerce.