Whether your job is driving on four, eight or more than eight 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 exist, employers of drivers–especially in California–are now being forced to take a second look at their wage policies or face lawsuits by drivers for having worked long hours with no premium pay.

The Department of Transportation says that vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds may be regulated by that federal agency, which means that some of California’s liberal overtime laws do not apply, or apply sparingly, to drivers of larger vehicles. As a result, although federal law does regulate overtime pay, laws such as the eight-hour workday do not usually apply to drivers of these larger vehicles. However, drivers of lighter vehicles for delivery, limousine, transit, courier and related services continue to file and successfully resolve 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. Cole & Van Note has served California’s workforce for decades as one of the state’s most respected workers’ rights law firms and has recovered massive and record-setting judgments/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.

This information is for illustrative and educational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice, the establishment of an attorney-client relationship, or as indicative of a particular outcome regarding any legal issue you might have.