More than two dozen Wichita-area truck drivers are suing Dallas-based Titus Transportation and several related companies that carry groceries for Dillon Stores. The drivers claim the company has been deducting money from paychecks each month for iffy “9x insurance.”
The drivers said they don’t have policies for the insurance, don’t know what it covers or why they need to have it.
The lawsuit was originally filed in Reno County District Court in September and was moved to federal court in Wichita last week. In the suit, drivers contend that Titus is deducting the insurance fees from the drivers’ pay without sufficient explanation. The drivers’ attorney, Ethan Kaplan, said the company deducts $67 for the insurance and another $6 for additional state personal property tax from each paycheck.
Twice, Kaplan said in a Wichita Eagle report, attorneys representing the truckers have sent letters to Titus seeking answers to their questions and requesting to look at the policy, but got no response. “They have politely requested a copy of the policy and never been given anything.”
The insurance charge was not part of the drivers’ original contract to haul groceries for Dillon stores, Kaplan said, so the drivers can’t tell if the charges are proper or not.
Kenneth Hoffman, who is representing Titus told the Eagle he had no comment on the specifics of the suit, but said that it is without merit. “We disagree with the plaintiffs and will defend the case strongly,” he said. “They don’t have any claims that will withstand the court’s scrutiny.”
