Maersk pays drivers $6.25 million in settlement
A.P. Moller-Maersk company BTT admits mistake that could cause loss for drivers
19 April 2007
The A.P. Moller-Maersk subsidiary, Bridge Terminal Transport (BTT) has agreed to pay independent drivers 6,25 million dollars in a settlement with OOIDA, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association in the US.
In June 2004 OOIDA and seven OOIDA members filed a class-action lawsuit against the intermodal carrier in federal court on behalf of individual owner-operators. The suit also alleged that BTT violated the leasing regulations by failing to disclose fuel and insurance-related administrative fees in its lease.
The original demand of OOIDA was 22,5 million dollars in compensation.
Wanted to change conduct
Each of the 6.000 drivers involved will now receive an average 800 US Dollar from the settlement. Attorney David Cohen, who has been working on the case for OOIDA, is satisfied. "We wanted to change the conduct of BTT now. In this settlement BTT promises to make a real in change their behaviour, compensation terms and relationship with the drivers in the future. And if they don’t, we’ll be back in court, Cohen says. BTT has committed themselves to inform drivers about compensation rates every 90 days.
BTT to fix errors
BTT admits that the company has made mistakes. "As we prepared to address the lawsuit, it became clear that we had made some mistakes that created the possibility for our owner operator business partners to suffer a loss", BTT president Phil Connors comments to Land Line Magazine.
"Rather than continuing to argue over the issue, we wanted to fix any errors that may have been made and remove any cause for concern on the part of our independent contractor partners", he continues.
David Cohen is confident, that BTT will comply with the settlement. "I guess that BTT also took the decision in their own business interest. There’s a shortage of drivers. Furthermore, BTT could have ended up paying even more money."
A federal court hearing June 4 has to accept the settlement, before it becomes official.
