Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Judge Blocks Additional $80 Million Penalty in Walmart Drivers Lawsuit

A judge has rejected an additional $80 Million penalty on top of the $54 million drivers were awarded in the Walmart driver wage lawsuit the company lost in November.

by Staff
January 26, 2017
Judge Blocks Additional $80 Million Penalty in Walmart Drivers Lawsuit

 

2 min to read


A judge has rejected an additional $80 Million penalty in the Walmart driver wage lawsuit the company lost in November, according to an Associated Press report.

In the original lawsuit, the court awarded $54 million to more than 800 drivers who worked for the company between October 2005 and 2015. The suit argued that drivers were not being compensated properly for activities such as vehicle inspections, washing or layovers and originally sought $72 million in damages.

Ad Loading...

After being awarded the $54 million, attorneys in the case asked for an additional $80 million in penalties. The judge in the case denied the additional sum, in part because Walmart’s original sum was already one of the highest such compensations in the trucking industry.

The judge did award drivers an additional $6 million for any time they were denied proper compensation by Walmart that was not covered in the original case.

Walmart had argued that drivers shouldn’t be paid minimum wage for layovers or rest time because their pay was based on mileage, not hours, and drivers weren’t working during that time. The company also argued that it was unreasonable to be expected to break down pay by each activity when some of it only took a few minutes to accomplish.

Ad Loading...

Wal-Mart still disagrees with the original verdict and maintains that it paid drivers within compliance of California law, noting its driver's average earnings ranged from $80,000 to over $100,000 per year.

More Drivers

Man seated in front of computer with inset of insights generated for a truck driver

Netradyne Intelligence Uses New AI Agents to Automate Response to In-Cab Camera Data

The company called the next-generation in-cab camera safety platform "a fundamental shift from systems that report on what happened to systems that actively drive what should happen next."

Read More →
Illustration of hourglass and trucks backed up to a dock
DriversJune 15, 2026

Why Truck Detention Keeps Costing Fleets Time and Money

A 2024 ATRI study found detention affects nearly 40% of truckload stops and costs the industry more than $15 billion annually. Despite the toll on drivers, fleets, and supply chains, the problem remains stubbornly persistent.

Read More →
Artist rendering of dealership with trucks and trailers parked outside
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseJune 2, 2026

Prime Inc. to Open $7.9M Flagship Used-Truck Dealership

A new driver-focused facility to sell Prime Inc's used trucks and trailers will be the first purpose-built location in the company's history.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail for podcast episode
Safety & ComplianceMay 28, 2026

Short Takes: Inside K&B’s Truck Safety Tech

Listen to learn how K&B Transportation uses cellphone-blocking technology, speed management systems, weather geofencing, bridge avoidance tools, and more to improve driver safety.

Read More →
Nussbaum driver pay.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseMay 27, 2026

Nussbaum Expands Driver Compensation with Pay Raises, Profit Sharing

Nussbaum Transportation said its latest compensation package could push first-year driver earnings above $90,000 in key hiring markets.

Read More →
Lance Evans, Director of Safety at K&B Transportation.
Safety & ComplianceMay 13, 2026

Listen: Inside Modern Fleet Safety: AI, Cameras & Speed Control at K&B Transportation

Fleet safety is evolving fast—and technology is at the center of it. Learn how a former commercial vehicle enforcement officer turned director of safety at K&B Transportation is embracing real-world safety technology.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Maverick Transportation Freightliner Cascadia.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseMay 12, 2026

Maverick Announces 2026 Driver Pay Raises

New raises for Maverick Transportation drivers will take effect on May 31, 2026.

Read More →
Alleged Ohio toll evasion truck.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseMay 5, 2026

Illinois Trucker Indicted for Nearly $22,000 in Ohio Turnpike Toll Evasion

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.

Read More →
Illustration with trojan horse and lock with inside of cargo container in background
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 23, 2026

New Trojan Driver Cargo Theft Scam Bypasses Carrier Vetting Systems

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.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Female truck driver.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseApril 21, 2026

WIM, Trucker Path Name Top 3 Women-Friendly Truck Stops

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.

Read More →