A federal appeals court has ruled against Werner Enterprises after the company refused to hire a deaf truck driver.
The details: On July 10, 2025, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Werner broke the law by turning down Victor Robinson, a deaf applicant who had completed truck driving school and gotten his CDL. Robinson also secured a hearing exemption from the FMCSA, which meant he was cleared to drive commercial vehicles.
- Werner claimed it could not hire him because he was deaf—even though he met all requirements and had the correct paperwork.
- The EEOC filed its lawsuit in 2018, saying this went against the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- A 2023 Nebraska jury already sided with Robinson and the EEOC, awarding significant damages.
What happened on appeal: Werner tried to overturn the ruling, arguing multiple legal points. But the appeals judges looked at each claim and stuck by the lower court's decision in full.
"No one should be judged by prejudice," said EEOC counsel Jennifer Goldstein after the win for Robinson in court.
Federal rules require drivers to pass a hearing exam, but the FMCSA allows exemptions for deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers, according to the FMCSA.
The district court already capped total damages at $300,000 and told Werner to report information about deaf applicants going forward. This latest decision keeps that in place and is final for now.