A group of logistics employees has filed an overtime lawsuit against Trident Transport, LLC, alleging the company misclassified them as exempt from overtime pay and failed to compensate them for hours worked beyond 40 per week. The lawsuit, filed on September 12, 2025, seeks unpaid overtime compensation for Account Managers, Sales Managers, Business Development Representatives, Carrier Sales Representatives, and Capacity Sales Representatives employed by the company anywhere in the United States within the past three years.
The complaint alleges that Trident Transport, which provides brokerage and freight services, improperly classified these positions as exempt from overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The lawsuit seeks to maintain the case as a collective action, meaning other similarly situated employees could join the case to recover unpaid overtime wages. The legal action requests overtime backpay and double damages for affected workers.
Michele R. Fisher, one of the attorneys representing the workers from Nichols Kaster, PLLP, emphasized the demanding nature of logistics work. Working in logistics is a demanding job that requires long and varied hours to meet customer needs, Fisher stated. We believe that these employees were misclassified as exempt from overtime pay and are owed additional pay for their overtime worked.
The case, titled Dennis v. Trident Transport LLC, Case No. 1:25-cv-00297, is proceeding in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Plaintiffs are represented by Michele R. Fisher and Alexandra M. Robinson of Nichols Kaster, PLLP, which has offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota and San Francisco, California. Additional information about the case is available at https://www.nka.com/tridentcase.
This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about employee misclassification in the logistics industry, where demanding schedules and customer service requirements often lead to extended work hours. The outcome could have significant implications for how logistics companies classify and compensate their sales and account management staff nationwide. Nichols Kaster, PLLP has dedicated over 50 years to fighting for clients in individual and class action matters and recently received a First Tier ranking on the 2026 Best Law Firms List in Minneapolis for Litigation-Labor and Employment by U.S. News-Best Lawyers Best Law Firms.
For HR vendors serving the logistics sector, this case underscores the critical importance of proper employee classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The collective action nature of the lawsuit means a single misclassification decision could expose companies to widespread financial liability across multiple states. The specific targeting of sales and account management roles suggests these positions may be particularly vulnerable to classification challenges in logistics operations.
The timing of this lawsuit coincides with increased regulatory scrutiny of worker classification across transportation and logistics. Vendors providing HR technology, compliance solutions, or payroll services should note that misclassification claims can result in substantial backpay awards plus double damages, creating significant financial exposure for clients. The case also demonstrates how demanding work schedules in customer-facing logistics roles create natural pressure points for overtime claims.
As the case proceeds through the Eastern District of Tennessee, HR vendors should monitor developments that could establish precedents affecting classification practices industry-wide. The involvement of a firm with Nichols Kaster's reputation in labor litigation indicates the seriousness of the allegations and suggests similar actions may follow against other logistics companies. This legal action serves as a reminder that proper classification requires careful analysis of job duties against FLSA exemptions, not just job titles or industry conventions.
