Forward Air Corporation Unpaid Wages Class Action Lawsuit, Were California Truck Drivers Shorted on Pay? Stevenson v. Forward Air Corporation et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court

Forward Air Corporation is facing a proposed class action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on February 17, 2026, accusing the company of wage and labor violations arising from an improper compensation plan for its truck drivers. The case was filed by plaintiff Tiga Stevenson on behalf of current and former California-based drivers going back four years. No settlement has been reached. This is an active lawsuit.

Forward Air Wage Theft Lawsuit — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	February 17, 2026
Defendant	Forward Air Corporation et al.
Alleged Harm	Failure to pay minimum wage for all hours worked; failure to reimburse business expenses; inaccurate wage statements; failure to pay all wages upon termination
Specific Law Alleged	California Labor Code — wage and hour provisions
Who Is Affected	Current and former Forward Air truck drivers who resided in California going back four years from the filing date
Court & Case	Los Angeles County Superior Court — case number TBD pending public docket confirmation
Current Court Stage	Proposed class action — pre-certification
Lead Plaintiff Deadline	TBD — not yet set by the court
Settlement Status	No settlement reached
Law Firms Involved	TBD — not confirmed in available sources
Last Updated	May 27, 2026

Who Is Forward Air and Why Are California Truck Drivers Suing Them?

Forward Air provides asset-light transportation services across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company operates as a nationwide trucking carrier serving business customers across major freight corridors, including routes in and through California. California drivers are at the center of this lawsuit because the state enforces some of the strictest wage and hour protections in the country — and the plaintiffs argue Forward Air’s pay structure falls well short of those standards.

How Forward Air Allegedly Failed to Pay Its California Drivers for Every Hour Worked

The lawsuit accuses Forward Air of paying its truck drivers based on a mileage rate, which the complaint says fails to compensate for non-driving time, and commits other labor violations including failure to pay wages, failure to reimburse business expenses, and other labor code violations and unfair business practices in California.

Stevenson argues that Forward Air required drivers to perform non-driving duties — including truck and trailer inspections, waiting time, and other on-duty time — but failed to ensure that drivers were compensated for those hours worked at minimum wage.

Other allegations include failure to compensate drivers for on-duty time during trips away from home, failure to reimburse business expenses such as the use of personal phones, failure to provide timely and accurate wage statements, and failure to pay all wages owed upon termination.

If you worked as a Forward Air driver in California in the last four years, this case may directly affect you. For context on how courts have handled similar situations, see how the TQL overtime and unpaid wages class action unfolded for logistics workers and what that process looked like for drivers in comparable roles.

California’s minimum wage stands at $16.50 per hour statewide in 2026. Under Labor Code §510 and §1197, employers must pay overtime and meet minimum wage requirements for all hours worked — and a wage violation attorney can assess records to build back pay claims. When a pay-per-mile structure causes total earnings to fall below that floor for any given workweek — including time spent on inspections, loading, or waiting — that gap becomes the foundation for a wage claim.

Understanding the broader picture of how employment class action lawsuits work and what recoveries look like can help you assess your own situation before speaking with an attorney.

Related article: Wix.com Ltd. (WIX) Securities Fraud Investigation Class Action, Were You an Investor When the Stock Dropped 27%?

Are You Part of the Forward Air California Wage Class Action?

Here is exactly how to know if this lawsuit includes you.

You may be affected if:

• You worked as a truck driver for Forward Air Corporation and resided in California at any point in the four years before February 17, 2026
• You were paid on a mileage-rate basis and performed non-driving duties — such as pre-trip or post-trip inspections, waiting time, or other on-duty tasks — without receiving additional hourly compensation
• You were not reimbursed for business expenses, including use of your personal phone for work purposes
• You received wage statements that did not accurately reflect all hours worked
• You were not paid all wages owed when you left or were terminated by Forward Air

You likely do NOT qualify if:

• You drove for Forward Air in states other than California and never performed work inside California
• You were classified and functioned as an independent owner-operator with a genuinely separate business operating independently from Forward Air’s control
• Your employment with Forward Air ended more than four years before February 17, 2026

Forward Air Drivers Outside California — Are You Still Covered?

Because this is a state court filing under California labor law, coverage is generally tied to work performed inside California. Truckers may be protected under California labor laws even if they do not live in the state — they may be considered employees even if they are classified as independent contractors in other states. If any portion of your work was performed in California, it is worth discussing with an employment discrimination attorney to determine whether California wage protections apply to your situation.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for this Forward Air unpaid wages lawsuit, a free consultation with an employment discrimination attorney can help you assess your situation before any deadlines are set by the court.

What Are Forward Air Drivers Asking the Court to Award in the 2026 Wage Lawsuit?

The suit seeks unpaid minimum wages, statutory damages, reimbursement of business expenses, and an order requiring Forward Air to comply with the California Labor Code with respect to currently employed drivers.

No dollar amount appears in the complaint, and no money is available yet. No claim form exists.

What Could Forward Air Drivers Receive If the 2026 Wage Case Settles?

Any recovery would depend on how many drivers join the class, the strength of the evidence, what records can establish actual hours worked versus miles paid, and what the parties ultimately negotiate. In California, the initial violation of wage statement requirements incurs a penalty of $100 for every failure to pay each employee, with higher penalties for subsequent or intentional violations. Waiting time penalties under Labor Code §203 can add up to 30 additional days of wages for drivers who were not paid everything owed at termination.

It is impossible to predict a settlement amount at this stage. Speaking with an employment discrimination attorney is the best way to understand what your individual losses might be worth.

What Should Forward Air California Drivers Do Right Now?

1. You are likely automatically included if you meet the class criteria — you do not need to file anything today. Most class members are covered without taking immediate action once the court certifies the class.
   
2. Gather and save your records now. The most useful documents are: pay stubs showing mileage-based compensation, daily logs or electronic records showing hours on duty, trip sheets showing time spent on inspections or waiting, any communications from Forward Air about pay policy, and records of personal phone use for work.
   
3. Calculate what you were actually paid per hour. Divide your weekly or biweekly pay by the total hours you worked that period — including pre-trip inspections, wait time, loading, and any other on-duty time. If the result falls below California’s $16.50 minimum wage for any workweek, document it.
   
4. Watch the court docket. This case is filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Once a case number is publicly confirmed, you can monitor it through the court’s online portal at lacourt.org.
   
5. Understand the lead plaintiff option. If you had a large documented loss and want a more active role in the litigation, you may be able to apply to serve as a lead plaintiff or class representative. This typically requires working directly with a class action lawsuit attorney before the court sets any related deadlines.
   
6. Consider an individual claim. If your losses are significant and a class action does not fully capture them, an individual wage claim filed with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, or DLSE) may run alongside or independent of this class action.

Forward Air Corporation Wage Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
Class period begins (four years back)	Approx. February 17, 2022
Class period ends	February 17, 2026
Lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court	February 17, 2026
Lead plaintiff deadline	TBD — not yet set by court
Class certification hearing	TBD — not yet scheduled
Expected resolution	TBD — early-stage litigation

Forward Air Corporation Wage Lawsuit — Frequently Asked Questions, Los Angeles County Superior Court

Is there a class action lawsuit against Forward Air Corporation for unpaid wages right now? 

Yes. A proposed class action was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on February 17, 2026, accusing Forward Air of wage and labor violations arising from an improper compensation plan for its truck drivers. The case is in early stages and has not been certified as a class action yet.

Do I need to do anything right now to be included in the Forward Air California wage lawsuit?

 Not immediately. Most class members are automatically included once a court certifies the class. The most important thing you can do now is gather pay records, logs, and any documentation of hours worked and compensation received.

When will the Forward Air unpaid wages case settle?

 There is no way to predict that at this stage. The case was just filed in February 2026. Settlement, if it happens, typically comes after class certification, discovery, and negotiation — a process that often takes one to three years or more.

Can I file my own wage claim against Forward Air for unpaid wages instead of joining the class? 

Yes. You can file an individual wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner’s DLSE independent of this lawsuit. An employment discrimination attorney can help you weigh which path makes more sense given your specific losses.

How will I find out if the Forward Air lawsuit settles?

 If the case settles, class members receive written notice by mail or email at their last known address. Staying current with your contact information and monitoring the Los Angeles County Superior Court docket will help ensure you do not miss any notices.

What does “lead plaintiff” mean and why does the deadline matter?

 A lead plaintiff is the named representative who acts on behalf of all class members. Courts typically set a deadline for applications. If you had a large documented loss and want to shape the direction of the lawsuit, you should contact a class action lawsuit attorney before that deadline is set.

What specific California laws does Forward Air allegedly violate in this lawsuit? 

The complaint alleges violations of the California Labor Code covering minimum wage, wage statement accuracy, business expense reimbursement, and payment of all wages owed at termination. Relevant provisions include Labor Code §510 covering overtime and §1197 covering minimum wage requirements.

How much could Forward Air drivers receive from a future settlement in this case?

 No money is available yet and no claim form exists. Recoveries in wage cases depend on total hours worked below minimum wage, the number of drivers in the class, the strength of time records, and what parties negotiate. Waiting time penalties and wage statement penalties can add significantly to the base unpaid wage number. Consulting an employment discrimination attorney is the best way to estimate what your individual claim might be worth.

Sources Used in This Forward Air Unpaid Wages Article

• CDLLife — Lawsuit says Forward Air violated California law by only paying truck drivers for miles driven, February 19, 2026: https://cdllife.com/2026/lawsuit-says-forward-air-violated-california-law-by-only-paying-truck-drivers-for-miles-driven/
• California Labor Code — Wage and Hour Provisions (§510, §1197, §203, §226, §2802): https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
• Original complaint PDF via Law360 assets: https://assets.law360news.com/2443000/2443395/stevenson%20v.%20forward%20air%20corp.%20et%20al.pdf

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the CDLLife report, NationalToday coverage, and the original complaint document on May 27, 2026. Last Updated: May 27, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individual circumstances differ. Consult a qualified attorney for advice about your specific situation.