Governor Gavin Newsom is standing firm over the implementation of California Assembly Bill 5 (‘AB5’) that defines and regulates the status of independent drivers.  As an unintended consequence of legislation directed to rideshare operators, independent truckers would be reclassified as employees, adding expense to both companies and their current operators.

Although the legality of AB5 was questioned by the California Trucking Association, implementation of the law during appeal is impacting the income of  independent drivers.  Protests resulted in blockage of transport of containers into and out of the Port of Oakland over a three-day period impeding handling of cargo. 

The protests came at a difficult time for the U.S. economy that relies on rapid and efficient West Coast port operation to maintain supply chains and to reduce inflationary pressures