3 State AGs threaten to sue FedEx over contractors

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I'm no legal guru by any meansbut to me this is just plain BS as well as all the other law suits FedEx has endured. It would be the equivilant of trucks going out and suing Landstar,Mercer CH Rboinson ,JCT etc etc and all the other o/o,l/o companies.

1. Lets face it FedEX Ground is running the basic same busines model as some of these companies, only they have more direct control over the freight avaiable ie its steady same route everyday ( for the most part).

2. The people who are contracted to FedEx Ground KNEW what they were getting hired to do on th
e front end, knew they wouldnt have benifits, nkew they were going to be "contractors" and not employees. so why ##### about. You knew it, if you dont like it then quit!!

3. I know that some people own the routes and then others work for those who own the routes. Thos who own the routes had to sign contract and agreements ( go back to #2 and shut up and like it or once again quit) those who work for the ones who own the contracts you dont have a right to sue FedEx, YOU DONT WORK FOR THEM, you work for billy bob who owns the route...sue him.

4. This is really what America has gotten to. People are just too lazy to go out and look for a new better paying better benifits job so why not sue someone else. FedEx is just being targeted in my opinion b/c they have money and people know with a little persistance they can get some $$ SAD but true.

5. If some of these people are upset b/c they arent getting benifits etc etc ill do your job and drive your route, alot of these route make BANK! if managed right. ill be more than happy to take them.

Im sure many other will post as well. I'd love ot hear others ideas and opinion reguarding this.

Thanks have agreat evening and be safe!!

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here's a little different version of the story. sounds like what fedex is doing is almost identical to the fleece/option scam that so many trucking companies try to pull. trying to classify an employee as an "independent contractor" is a tax evasion scam that has been happening for decades, and most definitely NOT just in trucking. just because an employee is willing to go along with the scam, that does NOT mean that the employer is not responsible for obeying the law. if my boss offered to work me 100 hours a week for straight pay (no overtime,) if I agreed to give him a blowjob, does that mean that it's OK? I agreed to it, right? I signed a contract.... I can't complain later!

hopefully when they're through with fedex, they'll move on to the other companies that have been breaking the law. by the way, it doesn't say anything about fedex being sued by their employees ("contractors,") they're being sued by attornies general of individual states. and as far as not having a right to sue - what kind of nonsense is that? of course you always have a right to sue, you just don't have a right to win!

I can't wait for FX as a whole to just drop all the contractors altogether. Won't hurt my feelings any.

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No load is worth your life. Or anyone else's.

Don't be exploited--DRIVE LTL!!

"The states said this occurs though FedEx subjects the drivers to strict work rules, down to the colors of their socks, and to thousands of dollars of expenses to buy or lease trucks and use company uniforms and scanners."

they are NOT contractors, they're employees illegally classified as contractors. that's why they're being sued.

I totally agree. You cant spefiy what exactly a contractor has to wear only that they appear neat and groomed nor can they require a uniform, requiring that w/o specific compensation (such as uniform allowance) doe smake them an employee.

I'm assuming from what was in the news post that fedex was "selling" or "leasing" a truck to the driver. they're probably looking at this aspect of the relationship more than the other stuff. hopefully they'll take a look at other trucking companies that do these fleece/option scams as a way to misclassify employees as contractors and evade tax. there is no shortage of tales on here of how these companies have financially ruined the folks who didn't know any better than to get involved with this scam.

Whats all the fuss about? Has anyone noticed the unemployment stats lately? We got a damn good thing going here and some folk want to ##### about it? COME ON!!
FedEx does right for their folks - contractors or drivers - if you got a bad contractor to drive for, go try to get a job flipping burgers at McD's and quit whining about your lack of bennies here.

Your attitude is why the state of trucking is the way it is.

I have a question for you? If you have a contract with your employer that states you will be paid for all time clocked in at work. Once you start work (0800 to 1600), you find you must show up 10 mins early for a briefing and stay 5 mins late everyday. The end of the week comes pay day, you find that you are not for that 15 mins each day. Will you just give them 1.5 hours of your time every week?

Mark