Transportation

The transportation industry moves North America, and our attorneys move in step with it. From truck and bus operators to rail systems, fuel distributors, and convenience store networks, Miller Nash represents the businesses that keep goods and people in motion. Our team understands that in this fast-paced and heavily regulated sector, every minute and every mile matters.

Whether responding to a catastrophic accident, a complex acquisition, or day-to-day compliance, we deliver practical, industry-informed counsel that keeps our clients’ operations on the road and on track.

Who We Serve

We counsel clients across every segment of the transportation ecosystem, including:

• Fuel Distribution & Retail – Travel centers, gas stations, oil terminals, and refineries, including national chains, regional operators, and franchisees.
• Truck & Bus Manufacturers – OEMs, specialty vehicle and equipment makers, and component suppliers.
• Heavy & Light Rail Operators – Public and private rail entities, including transit agencies.
• Shipping, Admiralty & Maritime Operators – Vessel owners, marine terminal operators, and logistics providers involved in domestic and international shipping, cargo transport, and port operations.
• Fleet Technology Developers – Telematics, AI, routing software, and autonomous systems.
• Charging & Fuel Infrastructure Providers – EV station developers, traditional fueling networks, hydrogen, and alternative fuel companies.
• Transit, Shuttle & School Bus Operators – University and corporate shuttle systems, and school transportation providers (including school districts and educational institutions) operating fixed-route, demand-response, and charter services.
• Dealerships & Distributors – Commercial vehicle sales, financing, leasing, and rental businesses.
• Parts, Service & Maintenance Providers – Repair networks and independent service operations.
• Logistics, Freight, & Warehousing Companies – Carriers, 3PLs, brokers, and intermodal operators.
• Roadway & Infrastructure Operators – Entities responsible for planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of public roadways, toll facilities, and municipal rights-of-way, including compliance with accessibility, safety, and engineering standards.
• Pipeline Operators & Fuel Transporters – Companies involved in the transportation and distribution of petroleum, natural gas, and alternative fuels through pipeline networks.

We serve clients throughout Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Idaho, with a national reach that extends across the Western United States and beyond.

Litigation and Risk Management

Our transportation litigation team has extensive experience defending trucking, bus, and motor coach companies, as well as transit agencies, public and private universities and school districts, and[A2] public transportation systems, in state and federal courts throughout the West Coast and across the country.

Our attorneys have successfully represented clients in complex, high-exposure cases involving trucking and transportation claims, product liability, condemnation, commercial disputes, industrial accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic loss, compliance, theft, hijacking, loss to loads, and personal injury.

Our approach emphasizes strategic preparation and trial readiness. Many of our matters are resolved before reaching trial, not because of a lack of litigation strength, but because of it. Our ability to develop strong factual records, leverage strategic pressure points, and present persuasive arguments early in a case often drives efficient and favorable resolutions.

Rapid Response Protocol

When a serious accident or catastrophic incident occurs, time is critical. Miller Nash employs a Rapid Response Protocol, a structured, on-call process designed to protect clients’ interests from the moment an event occurs.

Our team mobilizes immediately to:

• Coordinate with law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
• Provide counsel to drivers, operators, and supervisors.
• Engage and deploy accident reconstruction experts.
• Document and preserve crucial evidence at the scene.
• Advise on communications, reporting, and insurance notifications.
• When appropriate and authorized by the client, interact directly with potential claimants and their families, whether at the scene, hospital, or later at home, to provide a professional, empathetic response that supports de-escalation and helps protect the client’s reputation and relationships within the community.

This proactive, on-the-ground approach ensures clients receive timely legal guidance, mitigates potential exposure, and positions matters effectively for defense or resolution.

Transactional and Business Counsel

Transportation today is a complex network of infrastructure, logistics, and innovation, and our transactional attorneys help clients navigate every mile of it. Our corporate, real estate, and finance teams advise businesses involved in manufacturing, design, sales, distribution, and parts operations, as well as the property, regulatory, and commercial components that keep the industry moving.

We represent clients at every stage of growth, from regional operators expanding their fleets to national companies acquiring new fueling networks or logistics hubs. Our attorneys assist with regional and nationwide mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including:

• Large-scale purchases and sales of travel centers, convenience store portfolios, and fueling operations.
• Strategic acquisitions of dealership, service, and distribution facilities.
• Real estate development and financing for charging infrastructure and maintenance facilities.
• Corporate restructuring, joint ventures, and private equity transactions involving transportation and logistics assets.

Our deal experience spans mid-market to nine-figure strategic transactions, with clients across retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and technology sectors. We combine deep industry knowledge with practical execution, helping clients close complex deals efficiently, manage risk, and achieve their long-term business goals.

Comprehensive Legal Services

Our transportation practice integrates cross-disciplinary legal support across all operational needs:

• Environmental – Regulatory compliance, enforcement defense, and cost allocation.
• Premises Liability – Defending claims at fueling stations, travel centers, and maintenance facilities.
• Employment & Labor Law – Addressing driver classification, wage-and-hour compliance and disputes (including class actions), discipline and dismissal, discrimination and retaliation claims, workplace safety, union relations, employee and supervisory trainings, handbooks and policies, commission plans and employment contracts, and noncompete disputes.
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution – Representing clients in tort, contract, environmental, and regulatory disputes nationwide.
• Insurance Coverage & Risk Management – Navigating cargo damage, accident, cyber, and environmental claims.
• Business Formation & Transactions – Structuring ventures, joint ventures, supply and sales agreements.
• Commercial Contracts – Drafting and enforcing transportation, dealership, and service agreements.
• Intellectual Property – Protecting telematics, logistics software, and proprietary technology.
• Real Estate & Land Use – Guiding clients through site acquisition, permitting, development, and condemnation matters related to right-of-way, easements, and infrastructure projects.
• Trade & Import/Export Compliance – Advising on international supply chains, customs regulations, tariffs, and cross-border contract matters.

Industry-Focused, Client-Centered

Our attorneys bring more than legal experience; they bring industry fluency. We understand the operational, regulatory, and reputational pressures facing transportation and logistics businesses today. From environmental compliance to ADA accessibility and PMPA disputes, we offer a 360-degree understanding of the challenges across the trucking, bussing, rail, and retail fueling landscape. Transportation never stops and neither do we. Whether you’re operating a single fleet or a nationwide network, our attorneys are ready to support your growth, protect your interests, and respond when it matters most.