Texas Trucking Firm Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Overtime Pay and Visa Abuse

Key Details Two Mexican truck drivers have filed a federal lawsuit against Fabian Morales Trucking LLC in Texas federal court, alleging wage theft and immigration visa misrepresentation. Juan Carlos Renteria-Briones and Erik de Jesus Iniguez Fernandez claim the Hart, Texas-based carrier failed to pay overtime wages despite regularly working 60+ hour weeks between 2023 and 2025. The Allegations The drivers allege the company paid only straight hourly rates using the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) instead of time-and-a-half overtime required under federal law. More significantly, they claim Fabian Morales misclassified their positions as agricultural work on H-2A visa applications to avoid overtime obligations, even though they operated heavy trucks rather than farm equipment. Why It Matters This marks at least the second major legal action against the carrier for identical violations. The Department of Labor investigated the company in 2017 and determined H-2A drivers were owed overtime pay. A 2020 lawsuit resulted in a $200,000 judgment against the company. Despite these settlements, the complaint alleges Fabian Morales continued the same illegal pay practices. The lawsuit was filed as a collective action, potentially affecting dozens of H-2A workers employed by the carrier between 2023 and 2025. The case highlights ongoing compliance issues within the agricultural trucking sector regarding guestworker protections and overtime obligations.