Fostering a Welcoming, Respectful Work Environment

R+L Carriers is one of the largest family-owned transportation companies in the U.S. and a perennial recipient of Logistics Management’s Quest for Quality award. In addition to service excellence, R+L Carriers was recently recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women. Newsweek specifically awards companies with zero-tolerance for discrimination, an abundance of gender equality initiatives, and a high number of female employees who excel in multiple positions.

Since its establishment in 1965, the R+L Carriers workforce has represented men and women of all ages, races, religions, and ethnicities. This recognition underscores R+L Carriers’ longstanding commitment to fostering a welcoming, respectful work environment where employees are treated like family.

In 2010, the EEOC alleged that R+L Carriers discriminated against women in hiring. The EEOC made these decisions unilaterally, without a complaining party and prior to any investigation. After a series of investigations and lawsuits finding no evidence, the EEOC settles the matter.

Timeline of events is represented below.

What Happened with the EEOC

2010

EEOC launches nationwide investigation of hiring practices

The EEOC pronounces, without a complaining party and prior to any investigation, that R+L Carriers discriminates in the hiring of female drivers, female loaders, loaders over the age of 40, and drivers over the age of 40. The EEOC claims discrimination in hiring across all 120+ service centers nationwide and launches four Commissioner charges against R+L Carriers.

R+L Carriers continues diverse hiring practices

Meanwhile, R+L Carriers continues to hire without discrimination on the basis of age or gender. R+L Carriers does not change any hiring practices as a result of the investigation, and continues to hire female drivers, female loaders, loaders over the age of 40, and drivers over the age of 40.

2016

EEOC abandons class action charges

The allegations are determined to be false and the EEOC drops all four class action investigations/charges.

R+L Carriers continues to hire women

Meanwhile, R+L Carriers continues to hire women every year, just as it always has. Because R+L Carriers does not discriminate against employees on the basis of age or gender, R+L Carriers does not change any hiring practices as a result of the investigation.

2017

EEOC files narrowed suit in federal court

With all four class action charges dropped, the EEOC pivots and files suit in federal court. This time, however, the EEOC claims that R+L Carriers only discriminates against female dock loader applicants at the Wilmington, Ohio terminal. This limited lawsuit confirms exclusively there is no basis for the national investigation/charges.

2017 – 2023

No evidence is found in the federal lawsuit

The EEOC attempts to find evidence of discrimination in hiring during the six-year period of the pending lawsuit; however, no evidence is found to support its claims.

2023

EEOC agrees to settle the case

On the eve of the trial, the EEOC agrees to settle the case on terms that were offered by R+L Carriers six years prior. The EEOC releases a statement with an attention-grabbing headline, and R+L Carriers is finally able to resolve the thirteen-year cycle of lawsuits.

R+L Carriers is named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women

Meanwhile, R+L Carriers is named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women. Newsweek arrives at these rankings through an employer survey with a sample set of over 37,000 women. The study collects over 224,000 company reviews across multiple industry sectors and evaluates businesses based on criteria such as women in leadership positions, compensation, and benefits. R+L Carriers maintains its existing hiring practices and, because of its diverse team, continues its business of delivering freight with excellence for its customers.