A federal judge recently ended two class action lawsuits worth a total of more than $120 million against TransAm Trucking, a Kansas-based refrigerated carrier who ranks No. 93 in the CCJ Top 250.
Judge Eric F. Melgren in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas decertified the two classes of drivers in the case, effectively ending the class action suit that claimed TransAm Trucking misclassified drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. The court also denied the drivers’ claims regarding minimum wage.
The drivers sought compensatory and liquidated damages for approximately 8,500 drivers of $100 million dollars, as well as attorney’s fees. Drivers also sought compensatory and liquidated damages of $22 million and attorney’s fees in their claim under the Fair Labor Standards Act for some 1,900 drivers.
The case, which was filed in 2009, claimed that the two classes of drivers were misclassified as independent contractors when they should have been paid as employees according to state and federal law, according to a statement from the company. TransAm utilizes both employed company drivers and independent contractors to haul loads for its customers. The company’s contractors were paid significantly more per mile than company drivers under the terms of their agreements with TransAm, the statement said. This allowed the contractors to run their independent businesses however they deemed most profitable.
“We truly value the relationship with our independent contractor drivers and believe that we have the best program in the industry,” said Russ McElliott, President for TransAm in a news release. “One of the hallmarks of our program is to allow the driver to make his or her own business decisions and choices every day. These drivers have different goals and objectives and they make their own decisions based on their goals and objectives. We are certainly pleased that the court recognized this hallmark of our program in this decision.”
No appeal is expected. TransAm operates some 1,000 tractors and over 1,900 trailers.
TransAm was represented by Seigfried-Bingham law firm of Kansas City. Counsel representing the drivers were the Woody Law Firm in Kansas City, Siro Smith Dickson in Kansas City and Brady & Associates in Overland Park, Kansas.
