Judge Says UPS Discriminates Against Hearing Impaired
A federal judge ruled Thursday that UPS violates anti-discrimination laws by barring the deaf and hearing-impaired from driving parcel delivery trucks
A federal judge ruled Thursday that UPS violates anti-discrimination laws by barring the deaf and hearing-impaired from driving parcel delivery trucks.
U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson said the Atlanta-based company's practices breach the Americans with Disabilities Act, and ordered revisions in UPS policies within 30 days.
In a class-action case representing as many as 1,000 would-be drivers, Henderson said those with poor hearing should "be given the same opportunities that a hearing applicant would be given to show that they can perform the job of package-car driver safely and effectively."
The company said it was considering an appeal.
"For us, the bottom line - it's a public safety issue," UPS spokeswoman Peggy Gardner said. "It's not a discrimination issue. I can't emphasize that enough."
The U.S. Postal Service and FedEx Corp. allow some deaf drivers to operate delivery vehicles under 10,000 pounds.
More Drivers

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 →
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 →
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 →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 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 →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 →
Maverick Announces 2026 Driver Pay Raises
New raises for Maverick Transportation drivers will take effect on May 31, 2026.
Read More →
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 →
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 →
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 →
