Landstar appeals class-action ruling

Jacksonville, FL-based truckload carrier Landstar System is appealing a ruling of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, certifying a class action in a lawsuit pitting it against the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).

The company claims that OOIDA and four owner-operators allege that Landstar’s contractual agreements with its independent (referred to as “business capacity owners” or “BCOs”) do not strictly comply with certain disclosure requirements of the federal leasing regulations, which is why the court’s class action certification is improper.

“This class-action ruling is based on perceived efficiencies in resolving liability on a class-wide basis, rather than through a series of separate trials,” said Landstar vp, general counsel & secretary Michael Kneller. “Landstar continues to believe, however, that individual contractor-specific issues predominate over common issues and will therefore ask the U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta to overturn this ruling.”