Description
California IWC Wage Order No. 9 – Transportation Industry Poster
Help satisfy California workplace posting requirements with the California IWC Wage Order No. 9 – Transportation Industry Poster. This 18 x 24-inch notice explains important wage, hour, meal period, rest period, and working-condition requirements for employees covered by California Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order No. 9.
California employers must determine which Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order applies to their business or employees and post the applicable order in an area frequented by employees where it can be easily read during the workday.
What Is California IWC Wage Order No. 9?
IWC Wage Order No. 9-2001 regulates wages, hours, and working conditions for employees in California's transportation industry.
The order establishes requirements concerning topics such as overtime, minimum wages, reporting time pay, meal periods, rest periods, uniforms and equipment, meal and lodging credits, seats, temperature, elevators, and other working conditions for covered employees.
Who Is Covered by IWC Wage Order 9?
California defines the Transportation Industry broadly. Wage Order No. 9 generally applies to businesses or establishments operated for the purpose of transporting people or property from one place to another by rail, highway, air, or water, along with certain related operations and services.
Businesses and operations that may fall under Wage Order No. 9 include:
- Trucking companies
- Bus and tour bus companies
- Taxi and certain transportation services
- Limousine services
- Courier and parcel delivery companies
- Railways
- Ferry and cruise boat operations
- Moving and transportation-related storage operations
- Parking lots and storage garages
- Vehicle rental businesses
- Certain vehicle repair and maintenance operations
- Certain car wash operations
- Tow companies
- Transportation-related warehousing and storage
- Other businesses transporting people or property by highway, rail, air, or water
Transportation-Related Vehicle Operations
Wage Order No. 9 can cover more than businesses that physically transport passengers or goods. California's definition also includes certain operations and services connected with transportation, including storing or warehousing goods or property and repairing, parking, renting, maintaining, or cleaning vehicles.
However, the correct Wage Order can depend on how a particular business is operated. For example, some vehicle repair or car wash operations associated with a vehicle dealer or gasoline service station may fall under a different IWC Wage Order.
What Workplace Rules Does Wage Order 9 Cover?
California IWC Wage Order No. 9 addresses numerous wage-and-hour and working-condition requirements for covered transportation employees, including:
- Hours and days of work
- Overtime compensation
- Minimum wages
- Reporting time pay
- Records
- Cash shortages and breakage
- Uniforms and equipment
- Meals and lodging
- Meal periods
- Rest periods
- Seats
- Temperature
- Elevators
- Exempt employee classifications
- Other working conditions addressed by the order
California Minimum Wage and Wage Order 9
California's statewide minimum wage is updated separately from the underlying IWC industry Wage Orders. Employers should therefore display the current California Minimum Wage notice together with the applicable Wage Order.
Effective January 1, 2026, California's statewide minimum wage is $16.90 per hour, subject to applicable exceptions and higher state, industry-specific, or local minimum wage requirements.
California employers should also determine whether a city, county, industry, or other applicable law establishes a higher minimum wage for their employees.
Overtime Under IWC Wage Order 9
Wage Order No. 9 contains overtime requirements for covered nonexempt transportation-industry employees. Depending on the employee and work performed, California overtime rules can require premium compensation based on daily or weekly hours worked.
Transportation employers should carefully review the exemptions and special provisions contained in Wage Order No. 9 because some employees or transportation activities may be subject to different state or federal rules.
Meal Period Requirements
IWC Wage Order No. 9 contains meal period requirements for covered employees. In general, California employees subject to the applicable meal-period provisions may not be employed for a work period of more than five hours without receiving a meal period, subject to applicable exceptions and waiver provisions.
A second meal period may also be required when an employee works more than 10 hours in a workday, subject to applicable waiver rules.
Transportation employers should review Wage Order No. 9 and current California law because special provisions or exemptions can apply to particular transportation employees and operations.
Rest Period Requirements
Covered nonexempt employees are generally entitled to authorized and permitted rest periods based on the total hours worked, subject to the provisions and exceptions contained in Wage Order No. 9 and applicable California law.
Employers should ensure that employees receive applicable rest periods and that workplace policies accurately reflect current California requirements.
Does Wage Order 9 Apply to Exempt Employees?
Wage Order No. 9 contains exemptions from certain sections for employees who satisfy California's requirements for executive, administrative, or professional exemptions.
Whether an employee qualifies as exempt depends on the employee's actual duties, compensation, and other applicable legal requirements. A job title alone does not determine exempt status.
Commercial Drivers and Wage Order 9
Transportation employers should pay particular attention to the rules applicable to drivers. Depending on the employee, vehicle, route, employer, and type of transportation activity, state and federal wage-and-hour rules may interact with Wage Order No. 9.
Employers should evaluate the requirements applicable to each category of driver rather than assuming that all transportation employees are subject to identical overtime, meal, or rest period rules.
2026 California Wage Order 9 Developments
California's Industrial Welfare Commission has recently examined whether certain public employees covered by Wage Order No. 9 who drive commercial vehicles should receive meal and rest period protections similar to those applicable to private-sector commercial drivers.
Transportation employers should monitor California Department of Industrial Relations and Industrial Welfare Commission developments for amendments that may affect Wage Order No. 9.
Where Must IWC Wage Order 9 Be Posted?
California requires applicable IWC Wage Orders to be posted in an area frequented by employees where the notice can be easily read during the workday.
Appropriate posting locations may include:
- Employee break rooms
- Employee bulletin boards
- Dispatch areas
- Driver check-in areas
- Transportation terminals
- Warehouses
- Maintenance facilities
- Employee entrances
- Other conspicuous employee areas
Is California IWC Wage Order No. 9 Required?
Yes, when Wage Order No. 9 applies to the employer or employees. California employers must post the applicable Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order in an area frequented by employees where it can be easily read during the workday.
The Wage Order should be displayed along with other required California and federal workplace notices. Employers should also post the current California Minimum Wage notice next to the applicable IWC industry or occupation order.
How Do I Know Which California Wage Order Applies?
California has multiple industry and occupation Wage Orders. The correct Wage Order depends on the employer's industry, business operations, employee occupations, and other factors.
Employers should evaluate their operations and employee classifications before selecting an IWC Wage Order. Businesses with different operations or employee groups may need to review whether more than one Wage Order applies.
IWC Wage Order No. 9 Poster Specifications
- 18"W x 24"H
- Portrait orientation
- Printed in full color
- Laminated with high-quality laminate
- Available in English and Spanish
- California Transportation Industry Wage Order
California Labor Law and Compliance Resources
Labor Law Compliance Center provides employers with California labor law posters, IWC Wage Orders, city and local workplace notices, specialty postings, and compliance resources throughout the United States. Visit our California Labor Law Posters page for additional California workplace posting requirements and compliance products.