OOIDA vs Bridge Terminal Transport...

In June 2004 OOIDA and seven OOIDA members filed a class-action lawsuit against Bridge Terminal Transport, a Charlotte, NC-based intermodal carrier, in federal court on behalf of individual owner-operators, alleging that BTT violated federal truth-in-leasing regulations by failing to disclose or properly document compensation provisions in its lease agreements. The suit also alleged that BTT violated the leasing regulations by failing to disclose fuel and insurance-related administrative fees in its lease.

Status...

• As of mid-November 2007 - Filed June 2004 in U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. The court approved a settlement June 6, 2007, and checks totaling about $4 million were sent to about 5,000 class members.

  The class is defined as any owner-operators who, between June 2000 and Dec. 31, 2005, were parties to leases with BTT that contained no compensation terms. According to the company’s Web site, BTT’s terminals and owner-operator fleet make it the largest marine container hauler in the U.S.

  OOIDA’s Johnston said the Association believes the settlement is fair to owner-operators.

  “It provides for meaningful compensation to class members, and BTT has agreed to modify its lease to provide greater transparency and address the concerns expressed by OOIDA,” Johnston said. “I am gratified that after more than two years of litigation, BTT’s owner-operators will have a level playing field in terms of knowing their compensation rates.”

• On March 5, 2007, OOIDA announced that a settlement had been reached with BTT.

  Under the terms of the settlement filed with the court in Newark, NJ, BTT would pay $6.25 million to settle all claims, including attorneys' fees and costs, raised in the lawsuit. The settlement class covers all owner-operators who leased equipment and services to BTT during the period of June 2000 through December 2005, approximately 6,000 drivers.

  The funds recouped have been distributed to the class.

• Federal Judge Grants OOIDA Class Certification Against One of Country’s Largest Container Haulers (2-7-06)
• SPECIAL REPORT: OOIDA, BTT announce $6.25 million settlement

Index of Court Documents...

• Class Action Complaint