CMSA Northern Region met on October 23, 2019 at Amoura in South San Francisco with 37 members.
Dinner at Amoura Restaurant, South San Francisco
Thirty-seven CMSA Northern Region members gathered at Amoura Restaurant in South San Francisco.
On Wednesday, October 23rd, the Northern Region Chapter of the California Moving and Storage Association held its meeting at Amoura Restaurant at 713 Linden Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080. A big thank you to Jenna for the outstanding service. Our group of 37 enjoyed a delicious dinner and a standout dessert platter featuring Amoura’s famous date cake and baklava. Thank you to the whole team at Amoura for their warm hospitality.
Chairman Thomas McCarthy: The Global HHG Contract, AB5, and Pancreatic Cancer
Chairman McCarthy covered the Global Household Goods Contract, AB5, and Pancreatic Cancer support.
We heard from our current chairman Thomas McCarthy, visiting from San Diego, where McCarthy Van & Transfer is based. Thomas spoke about his introduction to the family business and what it means to be a fourth-generation mover. His company celebrated its 100th anniversary in February 2019. He talked about how leading chapter events and the association’s largest fundraising campaigns prepared him for his current role on the board.
Thomas has been actively working with our association president on one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: the Global Household Goods Contract. While the contract targets military household goods moves, local, non-local, and international movers are all expected to feel the impact of how moves for service members and their families are handled. Military moves account for about 20% of all domestic household goods moving, with over 950 approved carriers and total annual revenues estimated at over $2.5 billion.
Our industry has been successful in getting TRANSCOM to wait for a GAO audit and business case analysis to be provided to Congress before the contract can be awarded.
On Assembly Bill 5, authored by Lorena Gonzalez, our association met with her office’s representatives and advocated for the industry. That effort did not produce a carve-out. AB5 passed and is currently being challenged in the courts.
Thomas closed his remarks with a call to support the Pancreatic Cancer Network, a charity he chose in honor of his mother, who suffered from and passed away from pancreatic cancer.
President Steve Weitekamp: Scholarships, BHGS, AB5, and CARB
President Weitekamp covered CMSA scholarships, the BHGS transition, AB5 impacts, and CARB rules.
Next we heard from association president Steve Weitekamp. Steve acknowledged our Northern Region board representatives, Karl Anderson and John Chipman Jr., and spoke about the scholarship program, which provides funding for college or vocational schools. He encouraged members to look out for the application and to share it with workers and their families. He also put out a call to support events across other CMSA chapters.
Steve and the association continue to work through the transition from CPUC to BHGS, the agency responsible for licensing and operating authority for California household goods movers. There is ongoing dialogue with the agency on adopting a maximum and minimum rate tariff.
On AB5, Steve was clear that as a nonprofit trade association, the CMSA does not give legal advice. That said, AB5 targets the gig economy and the moving industry will feel the effects. The law will disrupt 1099 arrangements for packers and loaders. The hope is that in 2020, legislators will take a closer look and consider granting exemptions to the moving industry.
Steve also addressed CARB rules and their impact on operators. One piece of advice: do not feel pressured to sell your vehicle at fire-sale prices. States with less restrictive diesel regulations may offer a better market. Remember too that the DMV will not register vehicles that fall outside CARB compliance standards. For more on any of these issues, reach out to Steve or the CMSA office.
The 2019 Annual Holiday Dinner and Chapter News
The 2019 Annual Holiday Dinner sold 45 tickets in under 24 hours. Lulu’s Hauling donated bikes.
Check the chapter’s event registration page for upcoming events, including the Annual Holiday Dinner & Fundraiser. A huge thank you to Emily Thurston and Dennis Jenkins of Lulu’s Hauling and Lulu’s Cyclery for donating three bikes for the raffle.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Tickets are not sold at the door, so get your reservations and payment in early. At the time of publication, 45 tickets had already sold in less than 24 hours. Do not wait.
