Tulsa, Okla.-based Arrow Trucking may face a federal lawsuit this week, filed by employees who were laid off without warning last week, many of them drivers stranded on the road, when the company suddenly suspended operations.

According to the Tulsa World, Philadelphia attorney Charles Ercole has been retained by more than two dozen Arrow Trucking employees. Ercole told the paper that they plan to file suit alleging that Arrow violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, commonly known as the WARN Act, which typically requires large companies to give a 60-day notice of a pending mass layoff or closure.

When Arrow suspended operations Tuesday, it left many drivers stranded. Some found out when they discovered their fuel cards no longer worked. Drivers were instructed to turn in their trucks at the nearest terminal or dealership, where they could get some cash or a bus ticket to help get home. Daimler Truck Financial, which provides equipment financing for the majority of Arrow's fleet, offered Arrow drivers a Greyhound bus ticket or $200 for personal transportation to travel home. Navistar International, which also provides some of Arrow's trucks, made a similar offer.

But in many cases that wasn't enough, such as when drivers had pets with them or too many personal belongings to easily transport. News traveled fast via the Internet and satellite radio, and offers of help to get stranded truckers home came pouring in from other drivers and other carriers.

Making things worse, because Arrow has not formally fired its employees or gone bankrupt, but only suspended operations, employees can't file for unemployment benefits.

The paper also reported that the 61-year-old flatbed carrier has been having problems paying its bills for more than a year, and that vendors and contractors have filed lawsuits against the trucking company totaling nearly half a million dollars.

CEO Doug Pielsticker has released a statement saying the company is in negotiations with its principal lender.

Daimler Truck Financial has set up a toll-free hotline number and e-mail address for customers of Arrow Trucking to receive information locating their shipments. Those customers can call 877-294-9679 or send an email to ArrowFleetRequest@daimler.com.

See "Tulsa's Arrow Trucking Suspends Operations; Drivers Stranded," 12/23/2009.