The Trump election wasn’t the only big news last Tuesday – it was also the day that a number of our esteemed leaders trekked to the state capital to meet with state transportation leaders to discuss our industry’s priorities and challenges. CDA President Rick Pople, Legislative Committee Chair Andrew Brady and Board Member Donna Springer had a very productive and frank discussion with two of Governor Brown’s cabinet-level leaders with the CA Transportation Agency: Ronda Paschal, Deputy Secretary for Legislation; and Alicia Fowler, General Counsel.
This meeting was both timely and critically important – this year, the Governor proposed and legislature approved shifting PUC responsibility of transportation network companies and other transportation functions to the authority of the CA Transportation Agency. We wanted to get in “from the ground floor” to be sure we were sharing our thoughts and ideas for change during this transition.
You may recall that we have had productive discussions this past year with leadership from the DMV (including Director Jean Shiomoto), and CHP, two departments that report directly to the CA Transportation Agency, which ultimately reports to the Governor.
The meeting with Ms. Paschal and Ms. Fowler proved successful. Rick laid the foundation of who and what CDA and our industry are all about – that we’re often the “dark matter’ that many don’t know about but is out there making an impact. Neither agency leader had previously known much, if anything, about our existence.
Donna and Andrew did a deeper dive into the challenges we face with an uneven playing field compared to Uber, Lyft and the TNCs, praising the Governor for signing legislation requiring TNCs to conduct background checks and lauding the legislature for stopping the TNC carve-out bill.
Most important, though, your CDA leaders came with ideas and solutions – notably the call for modernizing the Motor Carrier Permit as it exists today to make sure it comports to a fairer, more realistic one in today’s California climate – an “MCP 2.0”, if you will. Andrew highlighted that our industry still faces a steep climb compared to TNCs and others that have little, if any, accountability, which puts Californians at a safety risk and businesses like ours at risk of shutting down. Rick reiterated that our industry is forward-thinking, is using technologies, and is mindful of being competitive in the marketplace: “We aren’t anti-anyone, we just can’t compete as long as laws make it unfair and inequitable.” Andrew suggested modifying the MCP in a way that works best for different levels and drivers in the commercial motorist community, but one that is updated and fairer than exists today.
It was obvious that both Ms. Paschal and Ms. Fowler had very little knowledge of our issues or concerns, and took copious notes and were very responsive to what we were suggesting and sharing. Ms. Paschal said that the new reorganization of transportation authority from PUC to the Transportation Agency still had a lot of “if’s” and unresolved issues, but the timing was key so that we could serve as a regular resource and partner with her, Agency Secretary Brian Kelly and the Governor during this change-over. We agreed to remain in touch during the holidays and rest of 2016, and into the new year, to discuss ways the CDA can help ensure MCP and related courier/messenger policy that works best for everyone.
We will also be reaching out to key legislators to further discuss our issues, including a possible modernized MCP, to explore leaders willing to co-author policy that may help us here and with other issues. Donna and many of you have rightly stressed that there are many other important issues affecting us and we want to be sure we have good elected leaders willing to champion pro-active and re-active legislation that will protect and help us. This meeting proved positive and the door is wide open for us to advise state transportation leaders at the highest levels, while also building our dugout of solid legislators to help us advance meaningful, sustainable policy.
More good things to come – stay tuned!
