Swift Transportation Employement Discrimation Litigation

Summary of Lawsuit

This lawsuit alleges that Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona, LLC, discriminates in hiring truck drivers on the basis of citizenship and national origin. This policy denies employment to individuals who have not held a U.S. driver’s license for at least 12 months, regardless of how long they have held a commercial driver’s license, their level of driving experience, and whether they have a license issued by a foreign state. 

  • This Complaint alleges that the terms of Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona, LLC’s employment policy unlawfully discriminates against people of foreign national origin and non-U.S. citizens. Swift’s employment policy denies employment if the applicant has not held a U.S. driver’s license for at least 12 months, regardless of whether the individual holds a commercial license, regardless of the individual’s driving experience or record, and regardless of whether the individual holds a license issued from a foreign state. The Complaint alleges that Swift knowingly failed to consider Plaintiff’s previous foreign driving experience in Afghanistan and his Afghanistan-issued drivers license and denied his application for employment solely because, at the time of applying, Plaintiff held an Oregon driver’s license for 10 months and not the required 12 months. 

    This practice is deemed unlawful under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Arizona Civil Rights Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1871, as it has an disparate impact on persons of non-U.S. national origin and intentionally discriminates against non-U.S. citizens. 

  • Counts I and II of this lawsuit are brought on behalf of the following class: 

    Persons of non-U.S. national origin who applied for positions as drivers with Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona, LLC from April 25, 2020, through the present, and at the time of such application has not possessed a U.S. state-issued driver’s license for at least 12 months but had possessed an international driver’s license for at least 12 months. 

    Count III of this lawsuit is brought on behalf of the following class: 

    Persons who were not U.S. citizens who applied for positions as drivers with Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona, LLC from April 25, 2020, through the present, and at the time of such application had not possessed a U.S. state-issued driver’s license for at least 12 months but had possessed an international driver’s license for at least 12 months. 

  • On April 25, 2024, Plaintiff filed Complaint. The Defendant has not yet answered the Complaint. 

Whom to Contact for More Information

If you are a member of the proposed class or you have information which might assist us in the prosecution of these allegations, please contact one of the following persons: 

Colin M. Downes, Esq. colin@bartondownes.com

Ming Siegel, Paralegal ming@bartondownes.com

Barton & Downes LLP

1633 Connecticut Ave. NW Suite 200

Washington, DC 20009

(202) 734-7046

Barton & Downes is co-counsel in this litigation with the Riverside NW Law Group, PLLC.