PAUL FOY
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A Utah truck driver contends shipping company FedEx ordered his firing because of his Russian accent.
Ismail Aliyev (ALI'-ev) worked for a FedEx long-haul contractor, GNB Trucking Co. of the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley.
The driver has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against both companies.
Aliyev says his trouble started when he reported that a weigh-station in Iowa gave him a warning about his accent.
The driver maintains his English is understandable - and that he even offered to demonstrate it at FedEx headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., but was turned down.
GNB Trucking says FedEx controls the hiring and firing of its drivers. A FedEx Ground spokeswoman had no comment other than to confirm Aliyev was employed by the independent contractor.
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