Swift Transportation Can’t Escape Drivers’ Off-Duty Pay Claim

Swift Transportation Co. must face class action claims by its drivers seeking pay for “off-duty” or “sleeper berth” time, a federal court in California said.

The claims stemmed from Swift’s alleged policy requiring drivers to stay in the immediate vicinity of their trucks if they were carrying high-value loads and were in a high-theft area. The drivers alleged that they were entitled to be paid for that time because they were working, even though their status was off-duty.

Swift moved for summary judgment, saying only a very few of its loads were high value and that trips were planned so ...