Whether your job is driving
on four, eight or even more wheels, overtime
laws may apply to you. Unbeknownst to many delivery,
short-haul, courier and intra-state drivers,
numerous California and/or federal laws dictate
the maximum number of hours drivers are permitted
to work before overtime pay is due. While exceptions
to the rule always exist, employers of California
drivers are now being forced to take a second
look at their wage policies or facing lawsuits
by drivers of all vehicle types for long hours
with no premium pay that go back years.
The Department of Transportation says that
vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds may be
regulated by that federal agency, which means
that at least some of California’s liberal
overtime laws do not apply to drivers of larger
vehicles. As a result, although federal law
does regulate overtime pay, laws such as the
8 hour workday do not apply
to drivers of these larger vehicles. However,
drivers of lighter vehicles for delivery,
limousine, transit, courier and related services
are filing and successfully resolving overtime
wage cases in record numbers. Oftentimes,
since these same California drivers are also
being deprived meal and rest breaks, they
are recovering compensation for those violations
as well. Indeed, our firm recovered a record-setting $87 million in one case on these issues alone.
The legal system is set up to “level
the playing field” and give workers
the power to correct workplace abuses. Scott
Cole & Associates has served California’s
workforce for many years as one of
the state’s most respected workers’
rights law firms and has recovered massive and record-setting
settlements for employees for workplace abuses.
For
a confidential discussion of your rights against
a former or current employer and/or to submit
a claim, contact
us
for more information.
