Top 10 Legal Trends Facing Motor Carriers in 2024

Rebecca (Becky) Trenner represents the firm’s clients in federal and state employment and unemployment tax controversies, with a particular focus on defending the classification of various transportation professionals, such as transportation equipment owner-operators and freight agents, as independent contractors. 

Trenner defends transportation industry clients in disputes including state agency efforts to reclassify independent contractor owner-operators as a motor carrier’s employees for unemployment benefit claim and unemployment taxation purposes, federal and state employment tax inquiries involving independent contractor reclassification, state agency attempts to reclassify independent contractor owner-operators as employees for workers’ compensation purposes and state unemployment tax successor liability and State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA) rate manipulation (i.e. SUTA dumping) investigations and appeals.

Internally, Trenner serves as the firm’s Associate Development Partner, responsible for facilitating, supporting, and guiding our associate attorneys’ training and professional development.

Jannie Steck’s practice primarily focuses on defending motor carriers across the country in trial court litigation involving highway accidents, wrongful death, and bodily injury claims. She regularly defends motor carriers and other transportation companies in state and federal trial court litigation in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. She has defended clients in multiple jury and bench trials and regularly assists clients with emergency rapid response to accidents. She serves as National Defense Counsel and excess monitoring counsel for several motor carriers.
 
As part of her litigation practice, Steck also represents transportation companies in litigation involving contract and other commercial disputes in court and arbitration proceedings. She also regularly advises clients on insurance coverage matters and represents transportation clients in insurance coverage disputes. Her experience includes assisting clients with emergency response to catastrophic and fatality accidents and post-accident investigations, defending motor carriers in lawsuits involving negligence and punitive damages claims in state and federal court litigation from inception through trial, serving as national defense counsel to motor carriers and assisting on litigation matters across the country and advising clients on insurance coverage issues and litigation insurance coverage disputes.

Colleen McCoy’s practice focuses on trial court litigation involving truck accidents and insurance defense litigation. She has trial experience in both federal and state courts. 

McCoy has assisted individuals and business entities in bringing and defending against lawsuits, negotiating settlements, and preparing for mediation and trials.