Company won't pay me $11,000. What are my options?

I've had people owe me money before. All it usually takes is a call from a lawyer and doesn't have to go any further.
This assumes they have the money to pay you. If they don't have it, you very well may never get it. As the old saying goes "you can't get blood out of a turnip".

 

Hire an attorney. You won't get anywhere on your own. But with an attorney threatening litigation you might be able to recover 40 cents on the dollar after legal fees.

 

I had an outfit owe me money before. All I did after being told to #### off by payroll at the branch was follow up my conversation with them by phoning management. I stated I have proof of wages owed to me and they have until Friday to have the money in my account or else I was calling the labour board. Money was there on Friday morning.

 

Doesn't matter who owns what. The company owes you the money. Is the company a sole proprietorship, LLC, LLP or C/S corporation? In any claims or litigation name all three.
Nothing will get a man to pay a debt faster than to have his wife in jeopardy as well.
Good luck.

 

Start recording all your calls, plenty free apps for that.

Call and give him a deadline to pay up or you are going to the Il Secretary of states office, they regulates all trucking there. Be sure to mention the violations to get his reaction on the phone.

If your money doesn't show up, Call and let them listen in.

 

The first place to start is the labor department in your state. Here in California the labor department would make him pay you full wages for every day (up to 30 days I think) after your last day worked if all wages haven't been paid by your last day worked. The labor board will not cost you anything. If the labor board isn't aggressive in your state then you'll have to pursue court. Don't threaten to blackmail him with ratting him out for his illegal practices. It will not get you your money any faster, and it could get you in legal trouble.

 

I would mention to the labor board that you did demand your money (this is a requirement here in CA) and that you were threatened with physical violence by your boss. This will have an impact on how they deal with them. Given the fact that you were threatened they will not likely ask you to meet in person with your former employer to collect.

I've only had experience with the CA labor board, and the MO labor board. MO was a waste of time. CA was very aggressive. They got results FAST. The company that was withholding money from me was being fined over a thousand dollars every day it took them to get my money into my hands. Hopefully, the labor board in IL will be more like CA.