Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether Dropoff, Inc. misclassified delivery drivers and couriers as independent contractors and failed to pay all wages or reimburse business expenses required by law.
Dropoff provides same-day courier and last-mile delivery services for businesses in industries including healthcare, retail, legal services, and logistics. Drivers generally use their own vehicles to complete deliveries assigned through the company’s mobile platform. The memorandum identifies Dropoff as a potential investigation target because drivers may perform deliveries under detailed operational control while absorbing substantial vehicle and operating expenses.
Drivers may be required to accept delivery assignments through the company’s application, comply with scheduled pickup and delivery times, scan packages, document deliveries, communicate with dispatch, and meet customer-service expectations.
Reported Driver Responsibilities and Expenses
Drivers may have been required to:
- accept delivery assignments through the Dropoff platform;
- report to designated pickup locations;
- load and transport assigned packages;
- complete deliveries within specified time windows;
- document deliveries through photographs or electronic signatures;
- communicate with dispatch and customers;
- return undeliverable packages or materials;
- provide and maintain their own vehicle;
- pay fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs, registration, and depreciation;
- use personal smartphones and mobile data; and
- perform unpaid loading, waiting, and administrative work.
Why Drivers Should Be Concerned
A contract describing a driver as an independent contractor does not automatically determine whether the worker is legally entitled to employee protections. Courts generally examine the realities of the relationship, including the degree of company control, economic dependence, and whether delivery services are central to the company’s business.
Drivers who personally perform deliveries while complying with company routing, timing, documentation, and customer-service requirements may have employee rights despite being classified as independent contractors.
Drivers also may spend significant uncompensated time waiting for assignments, loading vehicles, communicating with dispatch, resolving delivery issues, and returning undeliverable items.
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 Dropoff Drivers Who:
- delivered packages using the Dropoff platform;
- used their own vehicle for deliveries;
- were classified as independent contractors;
- regularly worked more than 40 hours per week;
- paid fuel, maintenance, insurance, or phone expenses;
- performed unpaid loading, waiting, paperwork, or return work;
- worked under detailed delivery-performance requirements; 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,” “courier,” “delivery partner,” or “owner-operator.”
If you drove for Dropoff 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.