Southway Carriers Settlement: Truck Drivers Get Cash After Company Took Unauthorized Deductions for Insurance, Tolls, Repairs, Tires & More
By Steve Levine
Published: February 11, 2026
Settlement Amount:
$120,000W-9 Deadline:
February 11, 2026 (Today)How to Claim:
Submit a W-9 form — no other paperwork needed
⚠ DEADLINE TODAY: You must submit your W-9 form by February 11, 2026 to receive a cash payment. Submit online at www.southwaycarrierssettlement.com right now. If you miss this deadline, you get nothing — but your legal claims are still released.
If you drove a truck for Southway Carriers under a Lease Agreement or Lease-to-Purchase Agreement at any point between February 2013 and December 2025, you could be owed money.
A class action lawsuit alleged that Southway Carriers and its owner Ivan Bojic misclassified truck drivers as independent contractors and then took unauthorized deductions straight out of drivers' paychecks — money for insurance, tolls, repairs, tires, fuel, and a long list of other charges that drivers never agreed to.
A $120,000 settlement has been reached. To get your share, all you need to do is submit a W-9 form. That's it — no lengthy claim form, no receipts, no documentation. Just a W-9.
But the deadline is today, February 11, 2026.
Submit Your W-9 Now
What Did Southway Carriers Do to Drivers?
According to the lawsuit, Southway Carriers ran a scheme that's unfortunately common in the trucking industry: they classified drivers as "independent contractors" instead of employees, then used that misclassification to take deductions from drivers' pay that would be illegal if the drivers were properly classified.Drivers operated under Lease Agreements or Lease-to-Purchase Agreements that the lawsuit says were non-compliant with federal Truth-in-Leasing regulations. Under these agreements, Southway allegedly took unauthorized deductions from drivers' wages for:
• Insurance
• Trailer rent
• Vehicle repairs
• Tires
• Fuel cash advances
• Tolls
• Deposits
• Escrow accounts
• Tickets
• Electronic logging devices (ELDs)
• Transflo fees
If you drove for Southway and looked at your settlement sheets wondering why your take-home pay was so much lower than expected, this lawsuit is about exactly that.
What Laws Were Violated?
The lawsuit alleges Southway violated two laws:1. Federal Truth-in-Leasing Regulations (49 C.F.R. §§ 376.1, et seq.)
These federal regulations require trucking companies to clearly disclose all terms of lease agreements with owner-operators, including every cost and deduction. The regulations exist specifically to protect drivers from being exploited through hidden or unauthorized charges. The lawsuit says Southway's lease agreements didn't comply with these rules.
2. Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (820 ILCS §§ 115/1, et seq.)
Illinois state law prohibits employers from making unauthorized deductions from workers' wages. The lawsuit alleges that by misclassifying drivers as independent contractors, Southway avoided the protections this law provides — and took deductions that would be illegal if drivers were properly classified as employees.
Who Qualifies for the Southway Carriers Settlement?
You are a class member if you meet this definition:All persons and entities that entered and operated under a "Lease Agreement" or "Lease-to-Purchase Agreement" with Southway Carriers, Inc. from February 6, 2013 through December 2, 2025.
The opt-out deadline has already passed. If you did not opt out, you are part of the settlement class and eligible for a payment — as long as you submit a W-9 by the deadline.
How Much Can I Get?
The total settlement fund is $120,000. After attorneys' fees and costs (up to $40,000), service awards for the three class representatives (up to $5,000 each), and administrative costs, the remaining money is distributed to class members who submit valid W-9 forms.Your payment is calculated pro rata based on your individual damages — meaning drivers who had more money taken from their paychecks will receive a larger share of the settlement. The exact amount depends on how many drivers submit W-9 forms and each driver's portion of total damages.
Payments will be sent as paper checks. You are responsible for any tax obligations on your payment.
How Do I File a Claim?
This settlement has one of the simplest claim processes we've seen: just submit a W-9 form. No separate claim form, no receipts, no supporting documents.You can submit your W-9 two ways:
• Online: Submit at the official settlement website.
• By mail: Send your completed W-9 to Apex Class Action, LLC, PO Box 54668, Irvine, CA 92619
Deadline: February 11, 2026 (today).
Submit Your W-9 Now
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
This is important to understand: if you do nothing, you will NOT receive a cash payment. However, your legal claims against Southway Carriers are still released whether you submit a W-9 or not. That means you give up the right to sue Southway over these issues — but get nothing in return.If you're eligible, there is no reason not to submit a W-9 and collect your share.
What Are the Important Dates?
• W-9 Submission Deadline: February 11, 2026 (today)
• Objection Deadline: March 2, 2026
• Final Approval Hearing: March 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM CT (by telephone)
When Will Payments Be Sent?
The final approval hearing is scheduled for March 5, 2026. If the Court approves the settlement, checks will be mailed to class members who submitted valid W-9 forms. The exact payment date is not specified in the notice but is expected within a few months after final approval.Any unclaimed funds will be donated to Legal Aid Chicago as a cy pres award.
Why Truck Driver Misclassification Matters
The Southway Carriers case is part of a much larger pattern in the trucking industry. When a company classifies drivers as "independent contractors" instead of employees, the company avoids paying for benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, and Social Security contributions. It also lets the company take deductions from drivers' pay that would be illegal under wage payment laws.For drivers, misclassification means lower take-home pay, no benefits, no job protections, and the false impression that they're running their own business when the company is actually controlling how and when they work.
Federal Truth-in-Leasing regulations were created specifically to address this problem in the trucking industry — requiring transparency in lease agreements so drivers know exactly what they're agreeing to and what's being taken from their pay.
Can I Object to the Settlement?
Yes. If you disagree with the settlement terms, you can file a written objection by March 2, 2026. Your objection must be signed and include your name, address, the case name and number, and the reason for your objection. You must also indicate whether you or a lawyer plan to appear at the final approval hearing.You can both object and submit a W-9 — filing an objection does not prevent you from receiving a payment.
How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?
Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:Case Information
The case is Eric Rivers, Vidal McLaurin, and Arrion Ford, on behalf all others similarly situated v. Southway Carriers, Inc. and Ivan Bojic, Case No. 23-cv-00738, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.Class Counsel: The Law Office of Kenneth T. Goldstein, PLLC, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1006, Chicago, IL 60606
Settlement Administrator: Apex Class Action, LLC, PO Box 54668, Irvine, CA 92619
Settlement Notice
Sources
• Class Action Settlement Notice, Rivers, et al. v. Southway Carriers, Inc. and Ivan Bojic, Case No. 23-cv-00738 (N.D. Ill.)• Settlement Website: www.southwaycarrierssettlement.com
• Class Counsel: The Law Office of Kenneth T. Goldstein, PLLC
• Settlement Administrator: Apex Class Action, LLC
Filing Class Action Settlement Claims
Please submit only truthful and accurate claims. Submitting false information can result in denial of benefits and potential penalties. If you are unsure whether you qualify, review the official notice or contact Class Counsel. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer news site and is not the settlement administrator or a law firm.
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Submit Claim| Class Action Summary | |
| Status | Proposed Settlement — Awaiting Final Approval |
|---|---|
| W-9 Deadline | February 11, 2026 (today) |
| Settlement Amount | $120,000 |
| Category | Trucking / Wage Theft / Misclassification |
| How to Claim | Submit a W-9 form at the official open class action settlement website or by mail |
| Payout | Pro rata based on each driver's individual damages |
| Class Period | February 6, 2013 through December 2, 2025 |
| Case Number | 23-cv-00738 |
| Case Title | Rivers, McLaurin, and Ford v. Southway Carriers, Inc. and Ivan Bojic |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division |
| Final Approval Hearing | March 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM CT (by telephone) |
| Objection Deadline | March 2, 2026 |
| Defendants | Southway Carriers, Inc. and Ivan Bojic |
| Class Counsel | The Law Office of Kenneth T. Goldstein, PLLC (Chicago, IL) |
| Settlement Administrator | Apex Class Action, LLC |
| Claim Website | Settlement Website |