I worked for a owner operator but didn't get paid

he is not going to pay you, so think about something pleasant like buying a new harley, or a corvette to take your mind off on getting ripped off be safe out there

 

It's doubtful you have any recourse unless you have a signed contract assuming you were a "contractor" (non-employee). Were you hired as an "employee" or as a "driver contractor"? Do you have anything on paper at all spelling out pay, or benefits, or job description, job duties, or anything along those lines? Did you abandon the truck anywhere other then the place you picked up the truck originally? Did you fail to deliver a load?

A lot depends on the circumstances that led up to this point and you have to be honest with yourself first. Working for "owner-operators" as a driver is always a risk of not getting paid in a timely manner or like was agreed upon. Happens every day.

 

Sure sounds like a volunteer position...


But in all seriousness, contact the labor board of the state in which he is based. They'll walk you through the paperwork and ask for your documentation. If they find against the company and the company still doesn't pay, they could wind up paying you double (assuming they have the funds). I had to go through this with a shady water hauler in North Dakota... Took about 2 months, but I was finally paid everything owed.

 

Actually you can get online and go to the state's DOL website and file an online complaint to get the process started. If the yahoo was supposingly claiming you were a subcontractor and issued a 1099 don't fall for his game. If you drove his truck and he told you where to go he was suppose to treat you as an employee.

If all else fails then there is a civil suit but I think his state will convince him with threatening a fine that he will pay you. Even if he claims you owe for this or that he can't withhold that money from your paycheck without prior written authorization.

It's about time someone gives him a wake up call on the proper and legal way to do business.

 

We had all the documentation but Pratt trucking out of Alabama lied and sent an invoice later saying the truck was abandoned even with text messages showing he asked it to be delivered to a certain person at a certain address the legal fees and hassle were greater then the 5 grand he owed us. He just listed a pile of bull that was deducted from my last check until it read $1.29 yes that is right. But karma came back in my instance. Next driver flipped his truck then his wife caught half their house on fire at christmas frying a turkey. So I laughed my self to sleep. And learned my lesson.