Judge halts California labor law as it relates to truckers

DON THOMPSON Associated Press SACRAMENTO (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday indefinitely blocked a new California labor law from applying to more than 70,000 independent truckers, deciding that it is preempted by federal rules on interstate commerce. The state law that took effect Jan. 1 makes it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors instead of employees who are entitled to minimum wage and benefits such as workers compensation. But when it comes to independent truckers, "California runs off the road and into the preemption ditch" of federal law, wrote U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego. He granted the California Trucking Association a preliminary injunction, indefinitely extending his earlier temporary restraining order until the associati