Flowers Foods v. Brock
In brief
Local delivery workers can fall within the Federal Arbitration Act exemption when their deliveries are part of goods' interstate journey.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 9-0 · May 28, 2026 · Opinion by Justice Gorsuch
- What it’s about
- The Court unanimously ruled for Angelo Brock, holding that a worker who transports goods within one state as part of their continuous trip between states may be exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act’s requirement to enforce arbitration agreements.
- Who it affects
- Some local delivery workers may be able to take work disputes to court instead of being required to arbitrate (resolve disputes outside court). For example, a driver delivering out-of-state bakery goods to local stores may qualify for the exemption.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The worker need not personally cross state lines or handle vehicles that do to qualify for the exemption.
The decision defines when workers are engaged in interstate commerce under the Federal Arbitration Act's transportation-worker exemption.
Question presented
Are workers who deliver locally goods that travel in interstate commerce—but who do not transport the goods across borders nor interact with vehicles that cross borders—“transportation workers” “engaged in foreign or interstate commerce” for purposes of the exemption in Section 1 of the Federal Arbitration Act?
What the Court decided
The vote
From the opinions
“A worker who transports goods on an intrastate leg of an interstate journey can qualify for the exemption without crossing state lines or interacting with vehicles that do.”
What's next
Lower courts must apply the Court's rule when deciding whether local delivery workers are exempt from arbitration agreements. Employers and workers may reassess whether disputes involving intrastate delivery routes belong in court or arbitration.
Docket activity
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More questions
- What did the Supreme Court rule in Flowers Foods v. Brock?
- The Court said a worker can qualify for the transportation-worker exemption while moving goods only within one state. The goods must be on an interstate journey.
- Who is affected by Flowers Foods v. Brock?
- Local delivery workers moving goods that previously traveled across state lines may be affected. Employers may be unable to require arbitration for covered workers' disputes.
- What happens next after Flowers Foods v. Brock?
- Lower courts will use this rule in disputes over arbitration agreements. Parties will need to show whether the worker's deliveries were part of an interstate journey.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.