(The Daily Signal)—As President Donald Trump and Congress look to hold illegal immigrant truckers accountable, a future United States Supreme Court decision could modify a federal law that could allow victims of commercial vehicle crashes to hold those responsible for hiring the driver behind the crash accountable.
The ruling, which is expected before June, could overturn a 2019 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and allow for the modification of Section 14501(c)(1) of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994.
“The statute being argued is severely outdated and does nothing to help the innocent families of the victims to unprovoked accidents,” Marcus Coleman, the father of Dalilah Coleman, who was struck by an illegal immigrant truck driver when she was 5, told The Daily Signal.
“If you are a broker and hire a company with issues, and continue operating with that company, you should be held liable. That is gross negligence.”
While the Colemans did not bring this lawsuit, the Coleman family has been pushing for a ban on illegal immigrants obtaining commercial driver’s licenses and has been closely monitoring the case.
The plaintiff, Shawn Montgomery, filed the case after Yosniel Varela-Mojena, a commercial truck driver for Caribe Transport II LLC, crashed into him in 2017. Varela-Mojena’s tractor-trailer veered off the road and crashed into Montgomery’s tractor-trailer, which was stopped on the side of an Illinois highway. Montgomery suffered major injuries, which resulted in the loss of one of his limbs.
Coleman told The Daily Signal that if the court were to side with Montgomery, it could allow the victims and families of these major crashes to sue the brokers responsible for hiring the driver who caused the crash.
Dalilah, now 7 years old, was hit by an 18-wheeler with an illegal immigrant driver behind the wheel in California.
The potential modification of the federal statute could also open the door for lawmakers to insert new guidelines for the employers of commercial truck drivers, also known as brokers, who Montgomery claims are currently shielded from liability over major crashes by hiring third-party driving companies that employ unqualified drivers.
During the oral arguments, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh told the defendants that “if you’re hiring drivers who can’t read the signs, that seems like a safety issue.”
Kavanaugh added that current federal law has allowed brokers to hire these drivers because of “federal government standards,” since “the federal government regulates the trucking companies and kind of certifies them.”
The Supreme Court could now “force the broker to be liable for the crash instead of hiding behind immunity and moving down the line,” Coleman said.
Gordon MaGill, a 28-year veteran and third-generation commercial truck driver, told The Daily Signal that the reason Montgomery is going after the brokers of commercial truck driving is because they “normally hire fraudulent foreign-based third-party companies,” which are known in the industry as “chameleon carriers.”
The “fraudulent companies,” he claims, are usually outside of American jurisdiction and hire illegal immigrants who settle for a lower wage. “These companies also do not vet their drivers, and most of them can’t even speak or read English road signs.”
The case of non-English proficient and unqualified drivers has now attracted the attention of all of the branches of the federal government.
During his State of the Union address, Trump said that “many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs as to direction, speed, danger, or location.”
The president then called on Congress to pass legislation that would hold illegal immigrant truck drivers and their employers accountable.
Last week, Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., introduced this legislation in honor of Dalilah.
“The Dalilah Law ensures commercial driver’s licenses are limited to individuals who are lawfully present in the United States and able to meet the safety standards required to operate these massive vehicles,” Houchin previously told The Daily Signal.
“When President Trump recognized Dalilah at the State of the Union, I felt like our country was finally listening. I am so grateful to Congresswoman Houchin and Senator Banks for fighting to make sure this never happens to another family,” Coleman added. “This law will save lives, and that means everything to us.”
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.