Overview

Matt represents a variety of domestic and international transportation organizations throughout the supply chain including motor carriers, brokers, leasing companies, third-party logistics providers, regional and national shippers, and large private fleets.

Practice Areas

A trusted industry advocate, he served as general counsel for a transportation company and regularly dealt with legal, safety, compliance, and risk matters, especially concerning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

He has particular experience in litigating transportation-related disputes, including last-mile, courier services, and independent contractor issues. In addition to his transportation work, Matt has also been involved in all aspects of several acquisitions including legal and integration into core business as well as overseeing a Compliance and HR Department.

Practice Areas

Representative Experience

  • Represented several multinational logistics companies in the assessment, evaluation, and implementation of USDOT/FMCSA compliance policies.
  • Represented several multinational transportation companies with USDOT/FMCSA compliance audits.
  • Developed motor carrier selection protocols for multinational freight brokerages.
  • Routinely advises clients on the use of Independent Contractor drivers/fleets while reviewing their structure and corresponding agreements.
  • Acts as outside General Counsel for several transportation companies in various segments of the supply chain.

Education & Admissions

Education

  • Cleveland Marshall College of Law, J.D., 2003
  • John Carroll University, B.A., 2000

 Band Court Admissions

  • State of Ohio

Involvement

Professional Affiliations

  • American Trucking Associations (ATA), Safety Policy Committee Member (2010 – Present)
    • Steering Sub Committee (2016 – 2018, 2021 – Present)
  • Truckload Carriers Association, Independent Contractor Committee (2017 – Present)
  • Ohio Trucking Association, Member (2010 – Present)
    • Board of Directors (2021)
    • Board of Trustees
    • Legal Reform Committee
  • Team 88, Member (2018 – Present)
  • National Tank Truck Carriers Association, Member (2016 – Present)
  • Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association, Member (2016 – Present)
  • Customized Logistics and Delivery Association, Member (2016 – Present)
  • Trip Captive Insurance Group, Board Member (2013 – 2016)
  • Transportation Lawyers Association, Member (2010 – 2016)
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Litigation Section (2003 – 2023)
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member (2020 – Present)

Publications

  • “District Court of South Carolina Slams the Brakes on Broker Liability,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Client Alert (January 2025)
  • “FMCSA Proposes Changes to Carrier Safety Rating System,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (February 2023)
  • “Senate Agrees on Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Client Alert (August 2021)
  • “Trucking Company files RICO Action against Attorneys & Co-Conspirators for Staged Trucking Accidents,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (March 2021)
  • “Gov. Signs Bill Expanding Stranglehold on IC’s in CA: What Now in California?” InterConnect FLASH! No. 75 (September 2019)
  • “Ohio Legislature Enacts Statutory Protections for Motor Carriers Using Bona Fide Independent Contractor Drivers, InterConnect FLASH! No. 73 (June 2019)
  • “Independent Contractor/Owner-Operators: Exempt From Arbitration for Dispute Resolution,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 71 (January 2019)
  • “California Lawmakers Drag in Shippers and their Intermediaries to IC Battlefront,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 69 (October 2018)
  • “Truth-in-Leasing Regulations Derail Motor Carrier’s Motion to Dismiss,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 68 (August 2018)
  • “CA Supreme Court Imposes a Presumption of Employment in the Wage Order Context,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 67 (May 2018)
  • “Fleet Model Withstands Misclassification Challenge in Massachusetts,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 66 (April 2018)
  • “Shipper’s Control Over Courier’s IC Drivers Results in Adverse Joint Employer Ruling,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 65 (February 2018)
  • “NLRB Rules Against Employee Status for Menard’s Drivers,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 64 (November 2017)
  • “Employee v. IC: Dual Role of Agent and Small Fleet Owner,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 63 (August 2017)
  • “Arbitration Clauses in IC Agreements: The Winds are Shifting,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 62 (June 2017)
  • “Regardless of Status (Broker/Motor Carrier): Contract & Control Still Matter,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 61 (May 2017)

Representative Experience

  • Represented several multinational logistics companies in the assessment, evaluation, and implementation of USDOT/FMCSA compliance policies.
  • Represented several multinational transportation companies with USDOT/FMCSA compliance audits.
  • Developed motor carrier selection protocols for multinational freight brokerages.
  • Routinely advises clients on the use of Independent Contractor drivers/fleets while reviewing their structure and corresponding agreements.
  • Acts as outside General Counsel for several transportation companies in various segments of the supply chain.

Education & Admissions

Education

  • Cleveland Marshall College of Law, J.D., 2003
  • John Carroll University, B.A., 2000

 Band Court Admissions

  • State of Ohio

Involvement

Professional Affiliations

  • American Trucking Associations (ATA), Safety Policy Committee Member (2010 – Present)
    • Steering Sub Committee (2016 – 2018, 2021 – Present)
  • Truckload Carriers Association, Independent Contractor Committee (2017 – Present)
  • Ohio Trucking Association, Member (2010 – Present)
    • Board of Directors (2021)
    • Board of Trustees
    • Legal Reform Committee
  • Team 88, Member (2018 – Present)
  • National Tank Truck Carriers Association, Member (2016 – Present)
  • Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association, Member (2016 – Present)
  • Customized Logistics and Delivery Association, Member (2016 – Present)
  • Trip Captive Insurance Group, Board Member (2013 – 2016)
  • Transportation Lawyers Association, Member (2010 – 2016)
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Litigation Section (2003 – 2023)
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member (2020 – Present)

Publications

  • “District Court of South Carolina Slams the Brakes on Broker Liability,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Client Alert (January 2025)
  • “FMCSA Proposes Changes to Carrier Safety Rating System,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (February 2023)
  • “Senate Agrees on Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Client Alert (August 2021)
  • “Trucking Company files RICO Action against Attorneys & Co-Conspirators for Staged Trucking Accidents,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (March 2021)
  • “Gov. Signs Bill Expanding Stranglehold on IC’s in CA: What Now in California?” InterConnect FLASH! No. 75 (September 2019)
  • “Ohio Legislature Enacts Statutory Protections for Motor Carriers Using Bona Fide Independent Contractor Drivers, InterConnect FLASH! No. 73 (June 2019)
  • “Independent Contractor/Owner-Operators: Exempt From Arbitration for Dispute Resolution,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 71 (January 2019)
  • “California Lawmakers Drag in Shippers and their Intermediaries to IC Battlefront,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 69 (October 2018)
  • “Truth-in-Leasing Regulations Derail Motor Carrier’s Motion to Dismiss,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 68 (August 2018)
  • “CA Supreme Court Imposes a Presumption of Employment in the Wage Order Context,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 67 (May 2018)
  • “Fleet Model Withstands Misclassification Challenge in Massachusetts,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 66 (April 2018)
  • “Shipper’s Control Over Courier’s IC Drivers Results in Adverse Joint Employer Ruling,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 65 (February 2018)
  • “NLRB Rules Against Employee Status for Menard’s Drivers,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 64 (November 2017)
  • “Employee v. IC: Dual Role of Agent and Small Fleet Owner,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 63 (August 2017)
  • “Arbitration Clauses in IC Agreements: The Winds are Shifting,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 62 (June 2017)
  • “Regardless of Status (Broker/Motor Carrier): Contract & Control Still Matter,” InterConnect FLASH! No. 61 (May 2017)

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