Illinois Man Claims He Was Fired Over Locs by Iowa Trucking Company: Civil Rights Complaint Filed

An Illinois man, Drew Harvey, is taking legal action against an Iowa-based trucking company, TMC Transportation, after he was allegedly fired for refusing to cut his locs. Harvey, 26, filed a civil rights complaint for discrimination, claiming that the company let him go over his hairstyle choice.

According to Harvey, he was one of the top performers during his training at TMC but was unexpectedly called to HR on the second day. There, he was given an ultimatum: cut off his locs or lose his job. Despite offering to trim or wrap his locs to meet company standards, Harvey was told he had to buzz cut his hair by Friday or face termination.

Harvey, who has not cut his hair since his father passed away four years ago, explained the cultural and spiritual significance of his hairstyle as an African American. He believes his locs actually helped secure his hard hat better and saw no reason for the company’s insistence on cutting them.

This is not the first time TMC Transportation has faced allegations of racial discrimination regarding locs. In 2021, Damon Mitchell claimed he was also fired for his hairstyle but later reached an agreement with the company.

Harvey has since hired a civil rights attorney to pursue his case against TMC Transportation, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by individuals who choose to embrace their natural hair in the workplace.