Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether Cardinal Health misclassified certain medical delivery drivers and couriers as independent contractors and failed to pay all wages or reimburse business expenses required by law.
Cardinal Health distributes prescription medications, medical devices, laboratory supplies, and other healthcare products to hospitals, pharmacies, physician offices, surgery centers, and other healthcare providers throughout the United States. The memorandum identifies Cardinal Health as a significant investigation target because many deliveries are time-sensitive and subject to detailed operational requirements, yet some drivers may perform this work as independent contractors using their own vehicles.
Drivers may be required to comply with strict pickup schedules, delivery windows, chain-of-custody procedures, scanning requirements, customer protocols, and return procedures while paying the costs of operating their own vehicles.
Reported Driver Responsibilities and Expenses
Drivers may have been required to:
- report to designated Cardinal Health distribution facilities;
- load prescription medications and medical supplies;
- complete assigned delivery routes;
- meet strict pickup and delivery deadlines;
- comply with scanning and chain-of-custody procedures;
- obtain customer signatures and maintain delivery documentation;
- return undeliverable items or paperwork;
- communicate with dispatch throughout the day;
- provide and maintain their own vehicle;
- pay fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs, registration, and depreciation;
- use personal cell phones and mobile data; and
- perform unpaid loading, waiting, and administrative work.
Why Drivers Should Be Concerned
Being labeled an independent contractor does not necessarily determine whether a worker is legally entitled to employee protections. Courts generally examine the actual working relationship, including the degree of company control, whether the worker has meaningful entrepreneurial opportunities, and whether the services performed are integral to the company’s business.
Drivers who personally perform deliveries under detailed routing, timing, documentation, and customer-service requirements while absorbing substantial operating expenses may have been improperly classified.
Drivers also may spend substantial uncompensated time loading products, waiting for assignments, completing paperwork, resolving delivery issues, and returning undeliverable products.
Potential Claims May Include
- Independent-contractor misclassification
- Unpaid overtime
- Minimum-wage violations after business expenses
- Unreimbursed mileage and vehicle expenses
- Unpaid loading, waiting, and administrative work
- Unpaid return-trip time
- Recordkeeping violations
We Are Interested in Hearing From Current and Former Cardinal Health Drivers Who:
- delivered pharmaceuticals or medical supplies;
- used their own vehicle for deliveries;
- were classified as independent contractors;
- regularly worked more than 40 hours per week;
- paid fuel, insurance, maintenance, or phone expenses;
- performed unpaid loading or paperwork;
- complied with strict delivery or chain-of-custody procedures; or
- believe they functioned as employees despite being classified as independent contractors.
You may have rights even if your agreement referred to you as an “independent contractor,” “medical courier,” “delivery service provider,” or “owner-operator.”
If you delivered for Cardinal Health and believe you were improperly classified or denied wages or reimbursements, please contact Migliaccio & Rathod LLP. There is no charge to speak with us, and there is no obligation to take legal action.
If you believe you encountered these issues, we would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call at (202) 470-3520.
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is a Washington, D.C.-based law firm representing employees in class and collective actions nationwide.