Several members have called with what they consider good news. California Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez has resigned. (See cover article.) Maybe this is good news for businesses negatively impacted by bills that Gonzalez had authored, including AB 5. However, I have a different perspective. Not only is Ms. Gonzalez probably getting an amazing pay increase (based upon reports), but she will have even more influence, for a longer time, because of the union lobbying coffers that will be at her disposal. The supermajority Democratic California state Government, Governor, Senate, and Assembly are all predisposed to support organized labor and under Ms. Gonzalez’ leadership this can only garner additional attention.

Late in December, I joined former chairman Tim McCarthy for an informal lunch with his state senator. The Dine & Dialogue with Senator Brian Jones event gave us an opportunity to speak directly with one of the rare creatures in California politics, a Republican. Jones sits on Senate B & P committee, generally the first committee that hears regulatory bills related to moving in the state Senate. It was worth the time to ensure that he understood who we are and the challenges that we face.

We began 2022 with a new MAX 4 Tariff with a 4.3% increase on almost all rates, only rates under $0.10 did not reach the threshold for an increase this cycle. I mention new tariff because each year the Bureau of Household Goods & Services (BHGS) will issue a complete tariff, this being their fourth copy. Previously, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) only produced the individual tariff pages that contained revisions, a system that BHGS was not comfortable continuing. As in previous years, CMSA conducted a Zoom session to review the changes and answer member questions. Always well received, this call had the maximum allowable number of attendees, and the question-and-answer period took us well over our allotted time.

Over the last several months, we have seen the California Highway Patrol (CHP) more active in the issuance of citations to movers for failure to have California Motor Carrier of Property (MCP) permits. Their position, one with which we disagree, is that now that movers are no longer regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that our longtime exemption from needing an MCP permit to conduct regulated work is no longer valid. As a result of the actions of the CHP, the CMSA requested a position of BHGS on the issue. BHGS agreed with CMSA and contacted the management of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) who sets the law. The DMV has come back with an informal response (in line with our position) that CAL- T permitted movers are not required to have an MCP (for regulated work). We have spoken with BHGS again and are asking them to have DMV send a more formal reply that can be shared with CMSA. At this point, the CHP is still enforcing what they believe to be the law, that all commercial vehicles registered in California be linked to an MCP.

Early January saw the return of CMSA’s annual military affairs chapter meetings in Twin Counties and San Diego. The scheduled presenters were the International Association of Movers, President Chuck White, and Director Dan Bradley as well as ATA MSC Executive Director Katie McMichael. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond her control, Katie was unable to travel but still provided valuable information in the form of a PowerPoint that I presented in her absence. In addition to a review and discussion of association business and the 2022 USTC business rules for military moving, a very interesting issue revealed itself. The story is too long for this column, but it involves military members placing Apple Air Tags in their shipment, then “catching” a driver not telling the truth about his location. The takeaway is that these devices are cheap and ever more prevalent. This story is detailed in Army Times and will probably start a run on this product.

January 2022 - CMSA Communicator