IMPORTANT UPDATE: On February 27, 2024, the remaining settlement funds were redistributed to class members who cashed a check from the prior distributions.

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What is this lawsuit about?

In the class action lawsuit, Markson v. CRST International, et al., the Plaintiffs previously reached settlements with Western Express, Inc., Schneider National Carriers, Inc., Southern Refrigerated Transport, Inc., Covenant Transport, Inc., Paschall Truck Lines, Inc., Stevens Transport, Inc. The Court granted final approval of the settlements on August 5, 2022. The Settlement Administrator began mailing settlement checks on November 18, 2022. For more information about the first batch of settlements, please click here.

On October 31, 2022, the Court preliminarily approved proposed settlements with CRST Expedited, Inc., CRST International, Inc., and C.R. England (the "Settling Defendants"). The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing on February 17, 2023 to decide whether to approve the Settlement. 

The Court preliminarily certified the Settlement Class and selected Susman Godfrey, L.L.P., Mayall Hurley P.C., Ackermann & Tilajef, P.C., and Melmed Law Group, P.C. to act as Settlement Class Counsel.

Plaintiffs have previously reached settlements with Defendants other than the CRST Defendants and C.R. England and have now reached proposed settlements with the Settling Defendants. The Settling Defendants deny all of the claims and allegations asserted against them, deny that compensation was suppressed, deny that they unlawfully sought any reimbursements, have asserted a number of defenses to Plaintiffs’ claims, and maintain that they did nothing wrong. However, they have agreed to settle this action to avoid the costs, inconvenience, distractions, and risks of further litigation.

Who is included?

The Settlement Class contains three groups of individuals:

1. The CRST Antitrust Subclass: all current and former drivers “Under Contract” as motor vehicle carrier drivers with CRST International, Inc., CRST Expedited, Inc., C.R. England, Inc., Western Express, Inc., Schneider National Carriers, Inc., Southern Refrigerated Transport, Inc., Covenant Transport, Inc., Paschall Truck Lines, Inc., Stevens Transport, Inc., at any time from May 15, 2013 through April 1, 2022.  “Under Contract” means those individuals who executed an agreement with any Defendant in which the person agreed to work for any of the Defendants for a specified period of time in return for training provided by, funded by, or reimbursed by that Defendant and who was employed by that Defendant between May 15, 2013 through April 1, 2022.  
2. The CRST Labor Code Subclass: all persons who (1) signed a Pre-Employment Driver Training Agreement or Driver Employment Contract with the CRST Defendants, (2) participated in the CRST Defendants’ Driver Training Program in California, and (3) were charged for their DOT physical, DOT drug test, administrative fees, and/or the $3,950 or $6,500 Contract Fee after failing to complete their contractually-required 8- to 10-month Employment Term, at any time between May 15, 2013 through April 1, 2022.  
3. The C.R. England Settlement Class: all current and former drivers “Under Contract” as motor vehicle carrier drivers with CRST International, Inc., CRST Expedited, Inc., C.R. England, Inc., Western Express, Inc., Schneider National Carriers, Inc., Southern Refrigerated Transport, Inc., Covenant Transport, Inc., Paschall Truck Lines, Inc., and Stevens Transport, Inc., at any time from May 15, 2013 through April 1, 2022.  “Under Contract” means those individuals who executed an agreement with a Defendant in which the person agreed, and became obligated to work, for that Defendant for a specified period of time in return for a commercial driver’s license education or other training provided by, funded by, or reimbursed by that Defendant and who was employed by that Defendant pursuant to that agreement at any time between May 15, 2013 and April 1, 2022. 

What do the Settlements provide?

If the settlements are approved, the Settling Defendants will pay $2,125,000 to the Settlement Fund.  The Settlement Fund will be used to pay: (1) the Settlement Administrator for administering the settlement and notice, (2) Plaintiff Class Representative awards (not to exceed $5,000 per Plaintiff Class Representative per each Settling Defendant), and (3) any attorneys’ fees (not to exceed one-fourth of the benefits created for the Settlement Class) and any expenses awarded by the Court (up to $500,000). Further, a $50,000 PAGA Payment ($37,500 to the LWDA and $12,500 to the Labor Code Subclass as alleged aggrieved employees under PAGA) will be made from the CRST Gross Settlement. The remainder of the Settlement Fund (“Net Settlement Fund”) will be available for distribution to qualifying Settlement Class Members. The Settlements also provide non-monetary benefits. For more information, please see FAQ 7.