Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether Jitsu, Inc. (formerly AxleHire) misclassified delivery drivers as independent contractors and failed to pay all wages or reimburse business expenses required by law.
Jitsu provides same-day and last-mile delivery services for retailers and e-commerce businesses. Drivers generally use their own vehicles to deliver packages assigned through the company’s mobile platform. The memorandum identifies Jitsu as a promising investigation target because drivers may perform deliveries under detailed operational requirements while bearing substantial vehicle and operating costs.
Drivers may be required to report to company distribution facilities, load assigned packages, complete deliveries within prescribed time windows, document deliveries through the app, and comply with customer-service and performance requirements.
Reported Driver Responsibilities and Expenses
Jitsu drivers may have been required to:
- report to designated pickup locations;
- load and organize assigned delivery routes;
- complete deliveries within required time windows;
- scan packages and photograph completed deliveries;
- communicate with dispatch and customers through the app;
- return undeliverable packages;
- satisfy delivery-performance metrics;
- 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
Whether a worker is properly classified depends on the realities of the working relationship rather than contractual labels. Drivers who personally perform deliveries while following company-directed routes, schedules, delivery procedures, and performance expectations may have employee rights despite being classified as independent contractors.
Drivers also may have performed uncompensated work before and after deliveries, including loading packages, waiting for routes, resolving delivery issues, returning packages, and communicating with dispatch.
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 Jitsu Drivers Who:
- delivered packages using the Jitsu or former AxleHire platform;
- used their own vehicle for deliveries;
- regularly worked more than 40 hours per week;
- paid fuel, maintenance, insurance, phone, or other operating expenses;
- spent unpaid time loading packages or waiting for delivery assignments;
- were required to satisfy company delivery metrics;
- returned undeliverable packages without additional compensation; 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,” “delivery partner,” “courier,” or “independent service provider.”
If you drove for Jitsu or AxleHire 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.