USA Truck Driver Marriage and Divorce Law in Michigan takes on added complexity when the driver owns their own trucking business rather than working as a company employee. This illustrative case from Detroit shows how a CDL owner-operator’s divorce turned into an $85,000 settlement once his business had to be formally valued.
Background: From Company Driver to Business Owner
A CDL driver from Detroit spent his first eight years as a company employee before purchasing his own truck and becoming an owner-operator in 2018, eventually building a small fleet with two additional trucks and hired drivers. He married in 2015, meaning his business was built almost entirely during the marriage. By 2023, when the couple divorced, his business generated roughly $340,000 in annual revenue.
Filing for Divorce Under Michigan Family Law
Michigan follows equitable distribution, and because the trucking business was formed and grown during the marriage, it was treated as a marital asset subject to division — not just the personal income he drew from it, but the value of the business itself, including its trucks, contracts, and goodwill.
How the Court Valued the Business
Valuing a trucking business isn’t as simple as checking a bank statement. The court relied on a forensic accountant to assess the company’s equipment value, outstanding loans, accounts receivable, and future earning potential. This is a critical step many owner-operators overlook — a business can be worth far more, or less, than its owner assumes once professionally valued.
Splitting a Business That Can’t Simply Be Divided
Unlike a bank account, a trucking business can’t be split down the middle without disrupting its operation. The court awarded the business itself to the husband, since he was the one actively running it, and instead offset his wife’s share of its value through other marital assets and a structured buyout payment over time.
Final Settlement Breakdown
- $50,000 — buyout payment to offset the wife’s share of the business valuation, paid in structured installments
- $25,000 — division of other marital property, including the family home equity
- $10,000 — spousal support for a transitional period
Total settlement: $85,000, with the business valuation driving the majority of the final number.
What CDL Drivers Can Learn From This Michigan Case
- Your trucking business is a marital asset if built during the marriage. This includes trucks, contracts, receivables, and goodwill — not just your take-home pay.
- Get a professional valuation early. A forensic accountant’s assessment can significantly change settlement negotiations compared to informal estimates.
- Buyouts are common when a business can’t be split. Expect structured payments over time rather than an immediate lump sum if you want to keep operating your business.
- Keep business and personal finances separate. Clean bookkeeping makes valuation faster, cheaper, and less contentious.
If you’re a CDL owner-operator heading into a divorce, understanding how your business will be valued and divided — with help from both a family law attorney and a forensic accountant — can protect your ability to keep operating after the settlement.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed family law attorney in Michigan for guidance specific to your situation.