Kenan Transport Sued for Pregnancy Discrimination and Retaliation
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against an operation of the tanker-hauler Kenan Advantage Group, claiming it violated federal law by discriminating against a female employee because she was pregnant.
by Staff
October 1, 2013
2 min to read
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against an operation owned by the tanker/bulk-hauler Kenan Advantage Group, claiming it violated federal law by discriminating against a female employee because she was pregnant and by retaliating against her because she made complaints about pregnancy discrimination.
According to the EEOC's complaint, Jessica Williams worked at Kenan Transport's Spartanburg, S.C., trucking terminal as a billing clerk. On Feb. 23, 2012, Williams had premature labor, which her doctor was able to stop. The EEOC alleges that when Williams notified the terminal manager, her doctor had excused her from work for a few days, the terminal manager told Williams she would not be allowed to return to work until after the birth of her baby. Williams was only seven and a half months pregnant at the time.
Ad Loading...
The EEOC further alleges that Williams complained to the company that she was being forced to go out on leave because of her pregnancy and of her intent to file a pregnancy discrimination charge. Ultimately, Williams gave birth to her child on March 15, 2012. According to the EEOC's complaint, Kenan terminated Williams on May 14 because of her pregnancy and/or in retaliation for her complaints about discrimination.
EEOC says federal law prohibits employers from discriminating against pregnant employees as well as prohibiting employers from retaliating against workers who complain about discrimination.
The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Spartanburg Division, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The EEOC seeks back pay and compensatory damages and punitive damages for Williams, as well as injunctive relief.
Kenan Advantage Group has more than 6,500 trucks in its fleet and is one of the largest tanker/bulk hauling operations in the U.S., while Kenan Transport had more than 900 trucks, according to 2011 federal records, the most recent available.
A new partnership brings free wireless ELD service plus load optimization and dispatch planning tools to fourth- and fifth-generation Freightliner Cascadia customers, with broader model availability planned through 2026.
This white paper examines how advanced commercial vehicle diagnostics can significantly reduce fleet downtime as heavy duty vehicles become more complex. It shows how Autel’s CV diagnostic tools enable in-house troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and faster repairs, helping fleets cut emissions-related downtime, reduce dealer dependence, and improve overall vehicle uptime and operating costs.
The $283 million acquisition of FirstFleet makes Werner the fifth-largest dedicated carrier and pushes more than half of its revenue into contract freight.
B2X Rewards is a new, gamified rewards program aimed at driving deeper engagement across BBM’s digital platforms, newsletters, events, and TheFleetSource.com.
Cargo theft losses hit $725 million last year. In this HDT Talks Trucking Short Take video, Scott Cornell explains how a bill moving in Congress could bring federal tracking, enforcement, and prosecutions to help address the problem.
Cargo theft activity across North America held relatively steady in 2025 — but the financial damage did not, as ever-more-sophisticated organized criminal groups shifted their cargo theft focus to higher-value shipments.
A new partnership between Phillips Connect and McLeod allows fleets to view trailer health, location, and cargo status inside the same McLeod workflows used for planning, dispatch, and execution.
