In an intriguing case that will doubtless ripple through the trucking industry, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has been considering the nature of downtime for truck drivers. Specifically, the Court is deciding whether the time spent by drivers in between shifts—often in the confines of their vehicle’s sleeper berth—should be deemed compensable work within the definitions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The lawsuit pivots on a dispute between a trucking company and its former employees, where the core issue is deciphering exactly what constitutes a driver being “off-duty”. The answer holds significant implications not just for drivers and their employers, but potentially for the broader definitions and applications of labor laws within all kinds of industries.
For a more in-depth look at the ongoing case and the broader implications of the court’s decision, please click here.