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Leaving California: A Truckers Journey Toward Business Survival
For over thirty years, I have dedicated myself to building a career as an independent contractor in the trucking industry. The autonomy of being my own boss enabled me to raise my four daughters and support my family while charting my own path. However, in 2020, a law passed by California lawmakers disrupted that livelihood and threatened to push thousands of truckers, including myself, out of business.
Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5) introduced a rigid definition of employment that made it nearly impossible for small business truckers to operate independently in California. Faced with a difficult decision, I had to choose between staying in my home state and watching my business collapse or leaving California to preserve the freedom I had fought so hard to achieve.
Major Changes for Independent Workers
Ultimately, I chose to leave California, marking a profound moment in my life.
The implications of AB 5 resonated with independent truckers across the nation, many of whom are women, veterans, immigrants, and first-generation business owners. The ability to decide when and how to work is not just a benefit for us; it is vital for our survival as independent business owners.
Gratitude fills me as I reflect on the timely support from Republican California Representative Kevin Kiley, who championed the
