Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/14162
trucking opportunities Visit www.overdrive.hotims.com and enter 228 Visit www.overdrive.hotims.com and enter 227 LogBook FedEx Ground settles driver suit FedEx Ground will pay $3 million to Massachusetts to settle claims that the company misclassified drivers as inde- pendent contractors. State Attorney General Martha Coakley announced the agreement with Pittsburgh-based FedEx Ground July 15. She alleged the misclassification resulted in less revenue in payroll taxes, worker’s compensation and unemployment assistance for Massachusetts. FedEx Ground denies liability in the settlement. A spokesman for the Pennsylvania-based subsidiary of FedEx did not return a request for comment. In 2007, Coakley’s office cited FedEx Ground for vio- lations of the state’s independent contractor law, which included failing to provide drivers with a proper pay stub and not paying overtime to certain drivers. FedEx Ground appealed this to the Division of Administrative Law Appeals over penalties of more than $190,000. The AG then did further investigation with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Revenue, which indicated significant underpayments to the revenue department, Coakley said. The settlement amount is for these underpayments and to 13 drivers named in the AG’s citation. These drivers have a separate pending suit not affected by this settlement. In May, FedEx Ground issued new standards for its then 12,000 owner-operators, including requiring independent contractors to be incorporated. Last year, FedEx Ground was involved in 50 class action lawsuits, including 21 certified class actions. — Jill Dunn Fed Ex Ground_OVD0810_PG.indd 1 Study details road, rail funding crisis The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ report, “Unlocking Freight,” warns of highway gridlock and a shortage of train tracks. In a decade, an additional 1.8 mil- lion trucks will be on the road and in 20 years, 50 percent more trucks than today will be needed to haul freight, the report said. Trucks are expected to continue to move 74 per- cent of freight. Interstate capacity needs increas- ing by 15 percent and 14,000 lane- miles of the National Highway System should be improved to Interstate standards, the report said. — Jill Dunn Wanted: Owner Operators and small fl eets, with reefer experience for growing Iowa based refrigerated carrier • Midwest to east coast and south east • Paid cargo & liability • 100% fuel surcharge • Fuel card available • YEAR AROUND shippers and back hauls recruiting within the lanes SILVER LAKE TRANSPORT, INC. Silver Lake_OVD0810_PG.indd 1 • 90% company freight • Drop trailers at shippers Also looking for company drivers with reefer experience and min of 5 years driving over the road Contact recruiting 0900 to 1600 1-877-965-2888 Call 9:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. CST AUGUST 2010 OVERDRIVE 79 7/13/10 10:49 AM 7/14/10 10:27 AM