As we celebrate a new year with optimism, we continue to work diligently on issues that impact our industry and our country. I hope that you have taken a moment to review the COVID 19 vaccine letter to Secretary Castro Ramirez and others in State Government that CMSA has sent, asking for priority vaccine distribution for members of the moving industry.

In the letter, we state that at a time when many sectors are rightfully posturing to get their workers access to the COVID-19 vaccine, we believe some consideration is due to the household goods moving industry.  Moving industry employees are designated as essential critical infrastructure workers per the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency.  Movers are a key cog in the machine that enables families and workers to transition to where they are needed; helping to keep our economy moving. As such, the moving industry plays a vital role in the U.S. economy and society as a whole, supporting Americans who, for job reasons, family care requirements, and literally hundreds of other critical factors, must relocate during the Pandemic. 

We reinforce that the household goods moving industry has taken many measures to keep workers and the customers they support safe during the Pandemic.  Movers have enacted policies that support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.  But we continue to be aware of the virus spreading from customers to workers and workers to customers.  With that in mind, and the fact that Americans must continue to transition from one location to another, we ask that you consider the critical role movers play in our economy as you make plans for the distribution of the vaccine.

On the California Legislative front, we have been informed of the reintroduction of a bill we opposed in the last session AB 2460 (Daly). The bill was eventually pulled in part because of our opposition in a COVID abbreviated legislative session. The new bill AB 224 (Daly) is the same language.

AB 224 (Daly) This bill would exclude from the definition of “household mover” a motor carrier, as defined, that provides transportation of household goods in containers or trailers where the household goods are entirely loaded and unloaded by an individual other than an employee or agent of the motor carrier and a broker that utilizes the services of that motor carrier and does not otherwise advertise, solicit, offer, or arrange for the full service moving of used household goods by motor carrier for compensation.

Bill Text - AB-224 Department of Consumer Affairs: Bureau of Household Goods and Services: household movers. (ca.gov)

We oppose this bill and support the current code language in The Household Movers Act that currently and clearly states : “Household mover” includes every corporation or person, their lessees, trustee, receivers, or trustees appointed by any court whatsoever, engaged in the permitted or unpermitted transportation for compensation or hire as a business by means of a motor vehicle or motor vehicles being used in the transportation of used household goods and personal effects over any public highway in this state. A broker, as defined in subdivision (a), shall be considered a household mover. The Legislature intends “household mover” to have the same meaning as “household goods carrier” in former Section 5109 of the Public Utilities Code, as that section read on June 30, 2018.

January 2021 - CMSA Communicator