US labor enforcers scrutinize 'independent' workers, truckers

The Teamsters are behind it , calling for repayment of those campaign contributions , just as with the review of the HOS .

 

I really doubt it is just the teamsters. There have been many IRS agents over the years that have been looking at this. The problem has been that the government does not actually actively go for this. It makes one wonder about kickbacks.

 

Somebody has to pay back Fed-Ex, ooops, I mean the Federal Reserve. Why don't the IRS audit them? Oh, thats right they are one in the same. Where is Ron Paul when ya need em? Oh yes they did, and boy are we sorry now.

 

From: http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=23383

But can they choose who's trailer they pull? What freight broker?

If Fedex don't offer the best rate ...

Can they negotiate their own rates?

Those points are the main things that define an "independent".

 

Yes , FedEx has given their contractors a list of brokers they can use .
FECC contractors can and often do refuse the offered rate . Sometimes FECC will come back with a better rate .
But what about O/O's leased to other carriers if you asked the same question of them ?
Your points are not the "main points" IRS considers . Here are the actual tests .
http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte/appx_d_irs_ic_test.html

 

Actually, this affects a lot of Taxi-drivers. Something to think about.

(I used to 1099 based on meter recipts. Tips & bag fees, and 'special trips' never seemed to end up on the meter. Of course this was back in the days before you could pay with an ATM card. I bet it's a lot harder to pull some of those tricks I used to pull.)