Missouri Commission on Human Rights Issues Finding of Probable Cause in Favor of Female Truck Driver Applicant

Online, November 23, 2009 (Newswire.com) - The Truckers Justice Center on behalf of it's client Deanna Roberts, filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Missouri Commission of Human Rights alleging that New Prime, Inc. d/b/a Prime Inc. engaged in unlawful employment practices contrary to Chapter 213, RSMO 2000. The specific allegation contained in the Complaint states that on January 12, 2009 Ms. Roberts telephoned Prime's recruitment office in Springfield, MO in order to ascertain the status of her employment application she submitted in late December, 2008. She was connected to and spoke to someone who informed her that her application was accepted however they would be unable to actually hire Complainant due to the fact that she is female. The reasoning provided to Ms. Roberts by Prime was that because she is female she cannot be trained by any available trainer but only by a female trainer and no trainers of this gender are available now or in the near future.

The Missouri Commission on Human Rights subsequently investigated Ms. Roberts complaint and on November 17, 2009 issued a Finding of Probable Cause that states in part "Probable Cause exists to credit the following: "(a) Respondent hired complainant but she was not allowed to start work because a female training was not available and all females have to be trained by another female. Therefore the Executive Director shall immediately endeavor to eliminate the unlawful discriminatory practice complained of by conference, conciliation and persuasion.".