Costco Drops Port Trucking Company for Labor Abuses

Sep 08,2017

Just a few weeks after a group of senators urged retailers to address the issue of labor abuses from the trucking companies in their supply chain, Costco has announced it is no longer doing business with one such port trucking company. The company is Pacific 9 Transportation, one of the largest port trucking companies in Southern California.

Costco is one of the world’s largest retailers, and their decision sends a powerful message to the trucking industry. Hewlett-Packard, another large corporation, says it has sent an auditor to investigate the same port trucking company for labor abuses. Walmart has also responded to the senators’ letter, stating it will cancel contracts with any trucking company that fails to provide assurances of fair labor practices.

Pacific 9 Transportation Responds to Accusations with Labor Reforms

Forty truck drivers have won California labor commissioner cases against Pacific 9. Half of those drivers testified to working up to 19 hours a day. The COO of the trucking company, Alan Ta, claims they have stopped leasing their trucks to drivers and have also launched a series of reforms.

In April 2016, Pacific 9 filed for bankruptcy protection due to the labor judgments. Since then, the company has started rehiring their drivers as full-time employees. Ta says Pacific 9 is working to become a model for the rest of the industry to reform.

“Fortunately, the pressure from the investigations and legislators seems to be having a positive effect on the trucking industry. We look forward to seeing more companies reform their labor practices,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in a truck accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.