PHARR, Texas — A South Texas motor carrier is facing a federal civil rights lawsuit after systematically disqualifying qualified commercial truck drivers over the age of 60 to satisfy its insurance underwriter’s policy guidelines.
The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (McAllen Division), accuses Pharr-based freight operator Trancasa USA Inc. of violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
According to federal court filings (U.S. EEOC v. Trancasa USA, Inc., Case No. 7:26-cv-00457), the enforcement action originated from a November 2023 application submitted by Gilbert Cerda, a 64-year-old commercial driver with over 20 years of experience and a clean driving history. Despite his qualifications, a company recruiter informed Cerda that his application required scrutiny from Trancasa’s commercial liability insurer because he approached their policy’s maximum age ceiling. Trancasa subsequently denied his application, explicitly citing the insurer’s refusal to cover him due to his age.
Federal investigators contend the practice was systemic. Under commercial liability criteria adopted in 2023, the fleet capped driver eligibility between ages 23 and 65, disqualified drivers over 60 who had minor traffic infractions within three years, and compelled applicants aged 63 to 65 to provide invasive long-form medical examination reports (Form MCSA-5875)—a condition not routinely demanded of younger drivers or mandated under federal safety standards.
According to industry reporting by FreightWaves, Trancasa USA operates 171 power units and employs nearly 200 drivers across high-volume cross-border shipping corridors.
The EEOC is pursuing back pay, liquidated damages, and a permanent injunction to prevent Trancasa from enforcing third-party age restrictions in its recruitment operations.
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