A proposed collective action lawsuit filed against Trident Transport, LLC on September 12, 2025, alleges that the logistics company misclassified certain employees as exempt from overtime pay, denying them compensation for hours worked beyond 40 per week. The case, filed in the Eastern District of Tennessee, seeks to recover unpaid overtime wages for Account Managers, Sales Managers, Business Development Representatives, Carrier Sales Representatives, and Capacity Sales Representatives employed by Trident anywhere in the United States within the past three years.
The complaint argues that Trident Transport, a brokerage and freight services provider, improperly classified these workers as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). According to the lawsuit, employees routinely worked more than 40 hours per week without receiving overtime premium pay. The action seeks to proceed as a collective action, allowing other similarly situated employees to join the case and recover back pay, liquidated damages, and attorneys' fees.
Michele R. Fisher, an attorney representing the plaintiffs from Nichols Kaster, PLLP, stated, "Working in logistics is a demanding job that requires long and varied hours to meet customer needs. We believe that these employees were misclassified as exempt from overtime pay and are owed additional pay for their overtime worked." Fisher and co-counsel Alexandra M. Robinson are leading the case, which is styled as Dennis v. Trident Transport LLC, Case No. 1:25-cv-00297.
The lawsuit highlights a common issue in the logistics industry, where employers may categorize employees as exempt from overtime based on duties or salary level, despite the nature of their work. The FLSA requires that most employees receive overtime pay at one and one-half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, unless a specific exemption applies. The complaint alleges that Trident's job titles and responsibilities did not meet the criteria for exemptions such as administrative or executive roles.
Additional information about the case and how logistics workers can make a claim for unpaid overtime wages can be found at www.nka.com/tridentcase. Nichols Kaster, PLLP, with offices in Minneapolis and San Francisco, has over 50 years of experience representing employees in class action and collective action matters. The firm recently received a First Tier ranking on the 2026 Best Law Firms List in Minneapolis for Litigation-Labor and Employment from U.S. News-Best Lawyers®.
This case underscores the importance of proper employee classification in the logistics sector, where long hours are common. If successful, the lawsuit could result in significant financial liability for Trident Transport and serve as a reminder for other companies to review their overtime compliance practices. The outcome may also provide a pathway for additional workers to recover unpaid wages and encourage industry-wide adherence to wage and hour laws.
