Court Granted Class Status to Trucking Overtime Case
New Mexico hourly truck drivers can now proceed as a group in their legal dispute over unpaid overtime compensation.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Employment
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A federal district court in New Mexico has granted class certification to a group of hourly truck drivers involved in a lawsuit against EVO Transportation & Energy Services, Inc. The litigation challenges how the company calculates overtime pay under the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act.
Why it matters
This ruling consolidates claims regarding whether out-of-state driving time should be included in overtime calculations. For workers, this legal step determines if their compensation disputes will be handled through a collective process rather than as individual lawsuits.
The federal court approved one class action grouping for hourly truck drivers, determining that a collective process is superior to individual lawsuits. The total number of affected employees and the specific dollar amounts in potential back pay have not been established.
The players
EVO Transportation & Energy Services, Inc.
A transportation company that employs hourly truck drivers and is the defendant in this overtime litigation.
New Mexico federal district court
The judicial body overseeing the legal proceedings and the application of state labor law.
The details
The court moved to certify the class after finding that common legal questions regarding overtime calculation methods predominated across the group of employees. This decision means the drivers can now pursue their claims against EVO Transportation & Energy Services, Inc. as a collective entity. The central dispute focuses on whether hours spent driving across state lines qualify as compensable time under the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: The federal district court officially granted class certification.
Money Landscape
This case highlights the evolving enforcement of the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act for workers who cross state boundaries. It follows a broader trend of judicial scrutiny regarding how transport companies categorize driving time for overtime pay purposes.
Hourly workers involved in the case should monitor for updates on their legal status and potential compensation eligibility. Consult with a qualified legal professional to understand how this class certification may affect your individual wage claims or future pay stubs.
The takeaway
The court's decision to group these claims simplifies the litigation process for the affected hourly drivers. Workers in similar roles should track this case to see if the court's final ruling clarifies which hours must be compensated at the overtime rate in their specific employment contracts.
Further reading
For more on state labor laws and wage protections, visit New Mexico Employment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloomberglaw.
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