Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo have announced a settlement with Jersey Tractor Trailer Training, Inc. (JTTT), a Bergen County truck driving school accused of misclassifying its commercial driver’s license instructors as independent contractors instead of employees.
The complaint against JTTT alleged that at least 30 instructors were denied proper wages and essential labor rights due to this misclassification. According to Attorney General Platkin, “No business operating in our state should be allowed to deprive workers of their rightful pay and benefits. That’s why my office, working in conjunction with Labor Commissioner Asaro-Angelo, has cracked down on worker misclassification, which denies employees their hard-earned pay and benefits,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Today’s settlement is another important victory in the fight against worker misclassification. Our message is simple: comply with the law or face the consequences.”
Labor Commissioner Asaro-Angelo added, “Our department is glad this matter has found a resolution as it reinforces something simple but essential: our longstanding laws matter, and respecting them protects workers, families, and businesses alike.”
Between 2018 and 2022, JTTT was accused of violating several New Jersey labor laws by not paying overtime or timely full wages, failing to maintain records for hours worked and wages paid, neglecting to provide earned sick leave, and not contributing to state funds such as the Unemployment Compensation Fund and Disability Benefits Fund.
Under the terms of the agreement, JTTT will pay a total gross settlement amount of $345,000. Eligible instructors can receive up to $137,160 collectively based on their earnings. Additionally, $127,839 will be paid by JTTT to NJDOL for penalties, fees, and legal costs related to the lawsuit.
The overall settlement may be reduced by $80,000 if JTTT fulfills its reporting obligations over the next two years by documenting that all current and future instructors are classified as employees according to state law.
This settlement follows similar actions taken by New Jersey authorities regarding worker misclassification in other industries including newspaper delivery services.
NJDOL was represented in this case by Deputy Attorneys General Nadya Comas and Matthew Harm from the Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Law under the supervision of Eve E. Weissman (Labor Enforcement Section Chief), Assistant Attorney General Mayur P. Saxena, and Deputy Director Sara M. Gregory.
