Truck drivers that filed a collective action against the federal government for unpaid wages have just struck a deal to resolve their claims. The U.S. Department of Defense has agreed to pay almost $8 million to end the collective action that claimed their drivers went unpaid for overtime hours. More than 180 drivers for the Defense Department’s Army and Air Force Exchange Service will benefit from the $7.95 million payout.
This department, which operates stores selling consumer goods to uniformed service members and veterans, had previously settled a separate overtime lawsuit for $4 million back in 2017 that provided back pay for about 7,000 employees. This current lawsuit alleged that this time the department miscalculated hours worked by their drivers. The truck drivers had claimed that the government was calculating their pay based on a formula that was factoring in rest and break periods that workers were not taking. As a result, the drivers’ pay was not based on the actual number of hours worked because they were being docked for breaks they did not take.
Unfortunately, truck drivers are often not paid correctly. They usually work long shifts and work way over 40 hours per work week. If you are a driver in this industry, and have concerns about your pay do not hesitate to call us for a free and confidential phone consultation at (212) 300-0375. You may be entitled to overtime pay and be owed wages. You can also visit our website for additional helpful information about your employment rights.