Section 2732.205
Owner-Operators of Motorized Vehicles
a) Section 212.1 of the Act [820 ILCS 405] applies only to
services performed on or after August 8, 1995.
b) The burden of proving that services are exempt, under Section
212.1, from the Act's definition of "employment" rests with the
person or entity to which the individual is contracted to perform the services.
c) Section 212.1 applies only to services an individual performs
as an operator of a truck, truck-tractor or tractor.
EXAMPLE: Smith
performs services for Company A, which is licensed by the Illinois Commerce
Commission as a motor carrier of personal property. These services consist
entirely of loading and unloading trucks at Company A's loading dock. Section
212.1 of the Act does not exempt Smith's services for Company A from the Act's
definition of "employment".
d) For purposes of applying Section 212.1:
1) "Truck" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section
1-211 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5].
2) "Truck-tractor" has the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 1-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
3) "Tractor" has the meaning ascribed to "road
tractor" in Section 1-178 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
4) "Family member" means any parent, sibling, child,
sibling of a parent, or any of the foregoing relations by marriage or civil
union.
5) A person or entity owns, controls or operates another entity
when:
A) by virtue of its ownership interest in that other entity, it
has the power to direct the management of the other entity;
B) by virtue of its ownership interest in that other entity
combined with the ownership interest of one or more others, it actually
directs, by itself or in conjunction with others, the management of the other
entity; or
C) it has responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operations
of that other entity.
6) Ownership, control or operation may be through any one or more
natural persons or proxies, powers of attorney, nominees, proprietorships,
partnerships, associations, corporations, trusts, joint stock companies or
other entities or devices or any combination of these.
7) "Person or entity" means a sole proprietorship,
partnership, association, corporation or any other legal entity.
8) A requirement imposed by a governmental regulatory or
licensing agency with respect to services an individual performs as an operator
of a truck, truck-tractor or tractor is not a requirement imposed on the
individual by any person or entity to which the individual is contracted to
perform the services.
e) Section 212.1(a)(1) of the Act
Section
212.1(a)(1) is not satisfied unless:
1) The services are performed by an individual who is registered
or licensed as a motor carrier of real or personal property by the Illinois
Commerce Commission, US Department of Transportation, or any successor
agencies; or
2) Both:
A) The individual performing the services is doing so under an
owner-operator lease contract; and
B) The person or entity with which the individual is contracted to
perform the services is registered or licensed as a motor carrier of real or
personal property by the Illinois Commerce Commission, US Department of
Transportation, or any successor agencies.
EXAMPLE:
Jones, who owns her own pickup truck, works for ABC Hardware Store. As part of
the regular course of Jones' work for ABC, she uses her pickup truck to make
deliveries to customers. Neither Jones nor ABC is licensed or registered as a
motor carrier of property. Section 212.1 of the Act does not exempt the
delivery services Jones performs for ABC from the Act's definition of
"employment."
f) Section 212.1(a)(2) of the Act
Section
212.1(a)(2) is not satisfied unless both subsections (f)(1) and (2) of this
Section are satisfied.
1) The individual performing the services must be able, with
reasonable notice if required by the contract, to terminate the lease contract
with the person or entity to which the individual is contracted to perform the
services, prior to the termination date specified in the contract, without
incurring any legal or equitable liability to that person or entity other than
liability for damage to the property being carried or damage or injury caused
as a result of the operation of the truck, truck-tractor or tractor.
A) EXAMPLE: The lease contract between Smith and Motor Carrier A
extends from January 1, 1997 through June 30, 1997 and provides that Smith's
terminating the contract prior to June 30, 1997, under any circumstances, will
result in Smith's being liable for liquidated damages determined according to a
formula specified in the contract. Section 212.1 of the Act does not exempt the
services Smith performs pursuant to the contract from the Act's definition of
"employment" because Smith does not have the right to terminate the
contract as contemplated by Section 212.1(a)(2) of the Act.
B) EXAMPLE: The lease contract between Jones and Motor Carrier C
extends from January 1, 1997 through June 30, 1997, but provides that Jones may
terminate the lease contract prior to June 30, 1997, without incurring any
liability to C other than liability for damage to the property being carried or
damage or injury caused as a result of the operation of Jones' truck, on the
condition that Jones provides C with reasonable notice of termination. If Jones
terminates the contract without providing C with reasonable notice, Jones will
be liable for liquidated damages determined in accordance with a formula
specified in the contract. Under these facts, absent any other evidence that
indicates C has failed to satisfy the requirements of subsections (e) through
(k), the services Jones performs for C are exempt from the Act's definition of
"employment".
2) Following the termination of the lease contract, the
individual must be able to perform the same or similar services for others, on
whatever basis and whenever he or she chooses, without incurring any legal or
equitable liability to the person or entity to which the individual was
contracted to perform the services under the terminated lease contract.
EXAMPLE: The
lease between Davis and Motor Carrier B provides that, upon termination of the
contract, Davis shall not, for a period of six months, perform services as an
operator of a truck, truck-tractor or tractor for any other motor carrier
located within a 90-mile radius of B's main office. The provision is
enforceable by injunction. Section 212.1 of the Act does not exempt the
services Davis performs pursuant to the contract from the Act's definition of
"employment".
g) Section 212.1(a)(3) of the Act
Section
212.1(a)(3) is not satisfied unless the person or entity to which the
individual is contracted to perform the services imposes no requirements on the
individual to perform the services, or be available to perform the services,
at a specific time or times, according to a specific schedule or for a
specified number of hours. The person or entity is not considered as having
imposed such a requirement when the person or entity informs the individual
performing the services of a pickup or delivery time specified by the shipper
or receiver of the property to be transported.
1) EXAMPLE: Adams telephones Motor Carrier A at 8:00 A.M. each
day Adams is available to provide truck driving services to see whether A has
any work for Adams. After being informed that there is work, Adams must make
himself available to perform the work by 9:00 A.M. If Adams fails to make
himself available by 9:00 A.M., Motor Carrier A will enter a demerit on his
personnel records. If Adams accumulates five demerits during a year, Motor
Carrier A will terminate its relationship with Adams. Section 212.1 of the Act
does not exempt the services Adams performs for Motor Carrier A from the Act's
definition of "employment".
2) EXAMPLE: Motor Carrier B telephones Smith in each of five consecutive
weeks to offer Smith work providing truck driving services for B. Each time,
Smith indicates he is not interested. B does not contact Smith after that. By
itself, B's decision not to attempt to do further business with Smith, an
individual who has consistently refused B's offers of work, is not evidence
that B has imposed any requirements on Smith to perform services, or be
available to perform services, at a specific time or times, according to a
specific schedule or for a specified number of hours.
3) EXAMPLE: ABC Produce Company has contracted with XYZ Trucking
Company to deliver produce to various wholesalers every Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday; ABC has instructed XYZ the produce must be delivered to each
wholesaler no later than 4 A.M. Jones is to perform the services for XYZ as the
operator of a truck, transporting produce from ABC. XYZ informs Jones of the 4
A.M. deadline imposed by ABC. It is understood that Jones' failure to meet the
deadline may jeopardize his ability to drive for XYZ again. The deadline was
specified by the shipper. The fact that a carrier may be reluctant to transact
future business with a driver who has failed to meet the shipper's deadline
does not, by itself, indicate the carrier has failed to satisfy Section 212.1
of the Act. Under these facts, absent any other evidence that indicates XYZ
has failed to satisfy the requirements of subsections (e) through (k) of this
Section, the services Jones performs for XYZ are exempt from the Act's
definition of "employment".
4) EXAMPLE: White operates a truck for the ABC Produce Company.
ABC instructs White that produce picked up from ABC's terminal must be
delivered to XYZ Wholesaler by 4 A.M. on the delivery date. It is understood
that White's failure to meet the deadline may jeopardize his ability to drive
for ABC again. The fact that ABC may be reluctant to transact future business
with a driver who has failed to meet the delivery time ABC, as the shipper, has
specified does not by itself indicate ABC has failed to satisfy Section 212.1
of the Act. Under these facts, absent any other evidence that indicates ABC
has failed to satisfy the requirements of subsections (e) through (k) of this
Section, the services White performs for ABC are exempt from the Act's definition
of "employment".
5) EXAMPLE: Under a contract between Reynolds and ABC
Construction Company, Reynolds is to deliver asphalt to a specified ABC
construction site at 8 A.M. on the designated day. Timely delivery of asphalt
will require Reynolds to pick up the asphalt from the location specified by ABC
no later than 7 A.M. It is understood that Reynolds' failure to pick up and
deliver the asphalt on time may jeopardize his ability to drive for ABC again.
The fact that ABC may be reluctant to transact future business with a driver
who has failed to meet the pickup and delivery times ABC, as the receiver, has
specified does not, by itself, indicate ABC has failed to satisfy Section 212.1
of the Act. Under these facts, absent any other evidence that indicates ABC
has failed to satisfy the requirements of subsections (e) through (k) of this
Section, the services Reynolds performs for ABC are exempt from the Act's
definition of "employment".
h) Section 212.1(a)(4) of the Act
Section
212.1(a)(4) is not satisfied unless:
1) the individual performing the services leases or holds title
to the truck, truck-tractor or tractor; and
EXAMPLE:
Smith operates a truck for ABC Trucking Company. ABC holds title to the
truck. Section 212.1 of the Act does not exempt the services Smith performs
for ABC from the Act's definition of "employment".
2) the individual or entity from which the truck, truck-tractor
or tractor is leased or that holds a security or other interest in the truck,
truck-tractor or tractor is not:
A) the person or entity to which the individual operating the
truck, truck-tractor or tractor is contracted to perform the services; or
B) owned, controlled or operated by or in common with, to any
extent, directly, or indirectly, the person or entity to which the individual
operating the truck, truck-tractor or tractor is contracted to perform the
services or a family member of a shareholder, owner or partner of the person or
entity with which the individual is contracted to perform the services.
i) EXAMPLE: Adams operates a truck for XYZ Trucking Company, a
corporation in which Jones is the majority shareholder. While Adams holds
title to the truck, ABC Trucking Company, of which Jones is the sole
proprietor, holds a lien on Adams' truck. Section 212.1 of the Act does not
exempt the services Adams performs for XYZ from the Act's definition of
"employment", since ABC is owned or controlled in common with XYZ.
ii) EXAMPLE: Madison operates a truck for XYZ Trucking, a
corporation in which Jefferson is a 5% shareholder. Madison holds title to the
truck, but ABC Finance Company, which is managed by the brother of Jefferson's
father-in-law, holds a lien on the truck. Section 212.1 of the Act does not
exempt the services Madison performs for XYZ from the Act's definition of
"employment", since the individual who operates ABC is a family
member of a shareholder of XYZ.
iii) EXAMPLE: ABC Trucking Company, a corporation, is being
audited by the Department to determine, among other items, whether services
that Jones provided for ABC were "employment" for purposes of the
Act. ABC demonstrates that Jones held title to the truck he operated in service
to ABC while he was performing the services for ABC. ABC also provides a
written statement, signed by an owner or officer of ABC and attesting that the
owner or officer has made reasonable inquiries into the matter and, to the best
of the owner's or officer's knowledge, while Jones was performing the services
for ABC, ABC did not have any interest in Jones' truck; no individual or entity
that might have held an interest in Jones' truck was owned, controlled or
operated by or in common with, to any extent, directly or indirectly, ABC; and
no individual or entity that might have held an interest in Jones' truck was
owned, controlled or operated by or in common with, to any extent, directly or
indirectly, a family member of a shareholder of ABC. The auditor is not aware
of any evidence that contradicts the written statement. These facts indicate
that Section 212.1(a)(4) of the Act is satisfied with respect to the services
Jones performed for ABC.
i) Section 212.1(a)(5) of the Act
1) Section 212.1(a)(5) is not satisfied unless the individual
operating the truck, truck-tractor or tractor pays all costs of licensing and
operating the truck, truck-tractor or tractor. Section 212.1(a)(5) is not
satisfied if the costs of licensing or operating the truck, truck-tractor or
tractor are separately reimbursed by an individual or entity other than the
individual operating the truck, truck-tractor or tractor. Costs not directly
associated with the operation or licensing of the truck, including but not
limited to telephone charges, expenses related to the loading or unloading of
cargo and workers' compensation premiums with respect to the operator of a
truck, truck-tractor or tractor do not constitute costs of licensing or
operating the truck, truck-tractor or tractor.
A) EXAMPLE: Smith operates a truck for ABC Trucking Company. At
the end of each week in which Smith has performed services for ABC, the company
furnishes Smith a check, accompanied by a statement itemizing the licensing and
operational expenses for which Smith is being reimbursed, including wear and
tear on Smith's truck. Section 212.1 of the Act does not exempt the services
Smith performs for ABC from the Act's definition of "employment".
B) EXAMPLE: Adams operates a truck for XYZ Trucking Company,
which furnishes Adams with a company debit card Adams may use to purchase
fuel. XYZ covers all approved charges against the debit card and does not
charge them back to Adams. Section 212.1 of the Act does not exempt the
services Adams performs for XYZ from the Act's definition of
"employment".
C) EXAMPLE: Jones operates a truck for XYZ Trucking Company. At
the end of each week in which Jones has performed services for XYZ, the company
furnishes Jones with a check. Jones deposits a portion of the payment received
from XYZ in a checking account she maintains to cover the costs of operating
the truck. Under these facts, absent any other evidence that indicates that
XYZ has failed to satisfy the requirements of subsections (e) through (k) of
this Section, the services Jones performs for XYZ are exempt from the Act's
definition of "employment".
D) EXAMPLE: Reynolds operates a truck for ABC Trucking Company.
At the end of each week in which Reynolds has performed services for ABC, the
company furnishes Reynolds with a check, based on a flat per mile fee. There
is no indication that any portion of the fee is intended as a separate
reimbursement to cover any costs directly associated with operating or
licensing Reynolds' truck. Under these facts, absent any other evidence that
indicates that ABC has failed to satisfy the requirements of subsections (e)
through (k) of this Section, the services Reynolds performs for ABC are exempt
from the Act's definition of "employment".
E) EXAMPLE: Smith operates a truck for ABC Construction Company.
At the end of each week in which Smith has performed services for ABC, the
company furnishes Smith with a check, based on an hourly fee for his services.
There is no indication that any portion of the check is intended as a separate
reimbursement to cover any costs directly associated with operating or
licensing Smith's truck. Under these facts, absent any evidence that indicates
ABC has failed to satisfy the requirements of subsections (e) through (k) of
this Section, the services Smith performs for ABC are exempt from the Act's
definition of "employment".
F) EXAMPLE: ABC Trucking Company pays for a customized paint job
for the truck of any driver who drives over 1,000,000 miles for it without an
accident, as long as the driver owns the truck. While technically, the cost of
painting a truck may be considered an operating cost, the principal purpose of
the payments in this case is not to reimburse the driver for operating costs
but to reward his or her safe driving record. Under these facts, absent any
other evidence that indicates that ABC has failed to satisfy the requirements
of subsections (e) through (k) of this Section, the services the driver
performs for ABC are exempt from the Act's definition of "employment".
2) This subsection (i) does not apply if federal or State law or
regulation requires that the costs of licensing or operating the truck,
truck-tractor or tractor be paid by the person or entity to which the
individual operating the truck, truck-tractor or tractor is contracted to
perform the services.
j) Section 212.1(a)(6) of the Act
1) Section 212.1(a)(6) is not satisfied unless:
A) the individual performing the services offers or advertises his
or her services to the public; and
B) the individual performing the services maintains his or her own
business identity.
2) Compliance with subsection (j)(1) can be demonstrated by the
individual displaying his or her name on the truck, truck-tractor or tractor,
or otherwise.
EXAMPLE: Smith
has his name and address painted on the doors of his truck. While operating his
truck in the performance of services for XYZ Trucking, Smith also has affixed
to his truck an identification device indicating he is hauling for XYZ. There
is nothing on the truck to indicate Smith does not offer his services to the
public. Under these facts, absent any other evidence that indicates XYZ has
failed to satisfy the elements of subsections (e) through (k) of this Section,
the services Smith performs for XYZ are exempt from the Act's definition of
"employment".
k) Section 212.1(a) of the Act is not satisfied if, as a
condition for retaining an individual's services as an operator of a truck,
truck-tractor or tractor, the person or entity to which the individual is
contracted specifies the person or entity from which the individual is to
purchase the truck, truck-tractor or tractor.
1) EXAMPLE: Smith operates a truck for ABC Trucking Company.
The truck was purchased from XYZ Company, from which ABC requires anyone who
wishes to drive for ABC to purchase his or her truck. Section 212.1 of the Act
does not exempt the services Smith performs for ABC from the Act's definition
of "employment".
2) EXAMPLE: Jones operates a truck for XYZ Trucking Company.
Jones purchased the truck from Smith. Previously, Adams, the owner of XYZ, had
advised Jones that Smith was interested in selling the truck. Adams had also
indicated that, based on what he knew about the truck, he would have bought it
if he had been in the market for a truck. However, at no time did Adams
indicate that Jones' ability to perform services for XYZ was dependent upon
Jones' purchasing a truck from Smith. Under these facts, absent any other
evidence that indicates that XYZ has failed to satisfy the requirements of
subsections (e) through (k) of this Section, the services Jones performs for
XYZ are exempt from the Act's definition of "employment".
(Source: Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 6449, effective May 14, 2019)