After a week of striking at port terminals and businesses across southern California, truckers from all of the affected companies have returned to work.
Steven Martinez・Web Editor
May 1, 2015
Drivers at four port trucking companies had been on strike since April 27.Photo via Justice for Port Drivers
2 min to read
Drivers at four port trucking companies had been on strike since April 27. Photo via Justice for Port Drivers
UPDATED — After a week of striking at port terminals and businesses across southern California, truckers from all of the affected companies have returned to work.
Though no agreements were made between the striking truckers and their employers regarding their claim of misclassification as independent contractors, the drivers at Intermodal Bridge Transport, Pacer Cartage and Harbor Rail Transport ended their nearly week-long strike. Later in the day on May 1, drivers from Pacific 9 Transportation also agreed to return to work.
Ad Loading...
“The drivers have been on the picket line all week and they have not been able to earn any income,” said Barb Maynard of Justice for Port Truck Drivers. “They recognize that this is a long fight and they have gone back to work so they can continue to provide for their families.”
The strike may not be over for good, however, as the core issues that prompted the job action were not addressed.
“They fully expect to strike again if their companies don’t classify them as employees,” Maynard added.
Ad Loading...
The strike was able to disrupt operations at several companies, such as Walmart, Costco, Toyota, General Electric and Target, but port terminals were mostly kept running. The terminals were turning away trucks from the striking companies, which prevented the picketers from causing traffic backups.
The drivers believe they are improperly classified as independent contractors, accusing their employers of wage theft. The issue has come up several times at Southern California ports, leading to strikes and lawsuits. As a result, some companies have reclassified their drivers as full employees.
Updated to include new information on Pac 9 drivers ending the strike later in the day.
Authorities say an Illinois trucker avoided paying tolls for two years, and now faces felony charges, possible prison time, and forfeiture of his Freightliner tractor.
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
ATA’s Women In Motion Council and Trucker Path highlight three truck stops that meet all seven safety-focused criteria and rank highest among female drivers.
Western Star is expanding its Star Nation Experience in 2026, adding new competitions and dealer participation to highlight operator skills and promote careers in trucking.
CarriersEdge announced the 2026 Best Fleets to Drive For overall winners, with Crawford Trucking, Fortigo Freight Services, and FTC Transportation receiving top awards.
The Department of Labor plans to expand Pell Grant eligibility to some shorter workforce training programs, a move the American Trucking Associations said will help strengthen commercial driver training schools and diesel technician training programs.
For an industry that has watched this issue go back and forth for years, the independent contractor proposal marks the latest swing in the regulatory pendulum.
