Ĵý Appeals to Supreme Court Over Truck Driver Rules
Today, Ĵý Logistics filed a petition seeking to have the review the decision in the matter of Dilts et al. v. LLC and Co., L.P.
The crux of the case is whether a long-standing federal transportation law that seeks to promote lower rates and better service by ensuring that rates and services are determined by competitive market forces rather than a patchwork of varying state laws preempts California’s state laws requiring mandatory meal and rest breaks.
California’s meal and rest break laws directly impact the routes, services, and prices of trucking companies, such as Ĵý, operating in California. Ĵý maintains the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994, which prohibits states from enacting laws related to prices, routes or services of a motor carrier, preempts California meal and rest break laws as applied to motor carriers. In 2011, the U.S. District Court ruled in Ĵý’s favor on this issue, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned this decision in 2014. Ĵý argues that the Ninth Circuit’s decision is at odds with Supreme Court decisions in other preemption cases.
Ĵý is seeking Supreme Court review because this case has sweeping impacts on how the trucking industry operates and disrupts competitive market forces.
“Safe drivers are a top priority at Ĵý and we already encourage our drivers to take their necessary safety rest and meal breaks while driving their routes and serving our customers’ delivery needs,” said Michael Duff, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Ĵý. “This case is about federal law preempting state laws that relate to rates, routes, and services offered by trucking companies. We’re asking the Supreme Court to resolve this issue for our company and the trucking industry. The Ninth Circuit’s decision significantly impacts the entire transportation industry as well as the flow of commerce and ultimately impacts consumers.”
Ĵý is being represented in the Supreme Court appeal by of Washington, D.C. and of Indiana.