Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether Owens & Minor, Inc. misclassified certain medical delivery drivers and couriers as independent contractors and failed to pay all wages or reimburse business expenses required by law.
Owens & Minor distributes medical and surgical supplies, healthcare products, and home-health equipment to hospitals, healthcare providers, surgery centers, and patients throughout the United States. According to the memorandum, Owens & Minor is a potential investigation target because drivers may personally perform deliveries under detailed operational requirements while paying the costs of operating their own vehicles.
Drivers may be required to complete scheduled delivery routes, comply with customer-specific delivery procedures, maintain delivery documentation, satisfy chain-of-custody or handling requirements, and meet company performance expectations while bearing significant operating expenses.
Reported Driver Responsibilities and Expenses
Drivers may have been required to:
- report to Owens & Minor distribution facilities;
- load medical supplies, equipment, or healthcare products;
- complete assigned delivery routes;
- meet scheduled delivery windows;
- obtain customer signatures or delivery confirmations;
- comply with product-handling or documentation requirements;
- return undeliverable products or paperwork;
- communicate with dispatch throughout the workday;
- provide and maintain their own vehicle;
- pay fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs, registration, and depreciation;
- use personal smartphones and mobile data; and
- perform loading, waiting, and administrative work without additional compensation.
Why Drivers Should Be Concerned
Whether a worker is properly classified depends on the realities of the working relationship rather than contractual labels. Drivers who personally perform deliveries while operating under company-established routes, documentation requirements, customer-service expectations, and delivery procedures may have employee rights despite being classified as independent contractors.
Drivers also may spend substantial uncompensated time loading products, waiting for assignments, completing paperwork, resolving delivery issues, and returning products or equipment.
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 Owens & Minor Drivers Who:
- delivered medical supplies or healthcare equipment;
- 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, paperwork, or return work;
- complied with detailed delivery procedures or customer 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,” “medical courier,” “owner-operator,” or “delivery service provider.”
If you delivered for Owens & Minor 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.