Y R ARA RS www.thebusinessjournal.com VE NI UPDATED DAILY ANNIVERSARAN thebusinessjournal.com AUG 25, 2017 THE FOCUS | 8 Trucking industry next in line for Uber ‘disruption’ David Castellon – STAFF WRITER Say what you want about Uber, but the online company that popularized ridesharing has managed to turn industries on its ears. It began with disrupting taxi and car services, offering people a way to order rides from drivers using their own cars. Business of Sports From that not-so-humble beginning, the company created Roundup UberRUSH, a package-deliver service available in some cities, and UberEATS, in which drivers deliver food from restaurants to homes and offices, including many in Fresno. And on Aug. 3, the company formally announced its latest venture — a service connecting truck THE EXECUTIVE drivers with people needing to move freight — PROFILE | 9 was launching in California. Quiet start Uber Freight began quietly late last fall in Texas, where 11 percent of the nation’s truck freight travels, to test out the concept, said Jeff Ogren, head of driver community and partnerships Trucking | 3 PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LEAH CANSECO-DECKER | Uber Freight just recently launched in California, but loads must originate in the Los Angeles, San Francisco or Sacramento areas. Edward Papulias CEO Pappy’s Fine Foods Infant of Prague making Valley areas tops in families, caring for parents industrial solar installation THE LIST | 10 David Castellon – STAFF WRITER Dragonfly Golf Club New installations of solar panels for industrial buildings tops the Golf Courses dropped by about half in Fresno County last year compared to list 2016, but it still was more than what was installed in any other California metro areas. In fact, three Valley metropolitan areas — some counties, some groups of cities crossing county lines — topped the latest This Week Online 6 list of new solar projects for industrial areas in this year’s Green People on the Move 12 Innovation Index. Leads 16-17 The annual report tracks California’s progress in reducing Public Notices 19-25 greenhouse gas emissions. Opinion 26 Solar | 5 Arambula seeks Assembly speaker’s DONALD A. PROMNITZ | From left, grandmother Cindy and mother Nicole Patzkowsky stand outside the Infant of Prague office with Jaxon, 4, and Jordyn, 1. The Patzkowsky family adopted Jordyn through Infant of Prague. Jaxon was support for Temperance Flat Dam adopted through another agency. David Castellon – STAFF WRITER After years of discussion, conceptualizing and lobbying, Donald A. Promnitz – STAFF WRITER supporters of a proposed dam at Temperance Flat likely will find out by June 2018 if the state will pony up $1.3 billion for the project. What started as a haven for expecting mothers to place their But while building the new dam on the backside of Millerton children up for adoption has turned into one of Fresno’s most Reservoir in Friant has considerable support here in the Valley, trusted and longest-lasting institutions of charity, connecting it’s up against 11 other proposed water-storage projects around thousands of families. the state seeking portions of $2.7 billion raised through the Prop. Located at 6059 N. Palm Ave., Infant of Prague Adoption 1 water bond California voters passed in 2014. Services is licensed to operate in 17 counties in California and to On Tuesday, state Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula, accept adopted children throughout the state. The organization D-Fresno, attempted to hedge the odds of the California Water has been in operation since the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno Commission selecting Temperance Flat as the main water-storage set it up in 1953. project funded through Prop. 1 by inviting the speaker of the “Women would come to, say, a priest in their church,” said Assembly to see where the proposed dam would be built. Infant of Prague Office Manager Gloria Ridenour, “looking for He also invited officials from Valley government agencies Infant of Prague | 5 Temperance | 7 FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017 ISSUE # 325304 | $1.25 PER COPY USPS 145-100 SENSITIVE PRIORITY HANDLING TIME PERIODICAL: 2 www.thebusinessjournal.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017 FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017 www.thebusinessjournal.com 3 Trucking | from 1 other states. As such, Ogren said, the service for Uber Freight. can be used to book hauling jobs by It went well enough there that truck drivers from anywhere in the for about the past three months, U.S. heading to or from Uber Freight’s the concept was tested in parts of focus areas. California, Chicago and the Midwest, “We’ve helped carriers and the Carolinas and Georgia in a sort of their drivers haul everything from “stealth mode” until the expansion oranges to furniture, and we’ve was announced earlier this month, been blown away by the [trucking] he said. community’s feedback. Our carriers “These new areas represent where and their drivers love Uber Freight’s drivers like to run, which makes transparency and fast payment,” sense. These regions, including Texas, states a company press release. cover over a quarter of the country’s One of the drivers sharing that drivers and freight,” according to a opinion is Tim Thomas, a partner news release. in FW Trucking Co. in Visalia, who “While today we still have most of over the last six months has been our loads in Texas, over the coming regularly hauling loads of wooden months drivers can expect to see pallets from Pico Rivera to Fresno an ever-increasing number of loads in trips arranged through the Uber available on the app in these new Freight app. markets.” He said Uber contacted him about CONTRIBUTED | Tim Thomas, a driver and partner in FW Trucking Co. said his Visalia-based But Uber Freight isn’t available half a year ago and explained the company has been booking hauls from Southern California to Fresno through Uber Freight for completely across the regions where service, which essentially functions about the past six months, and he’s happy with the service. the program has expanded. In like existing brokerage services that California for example, the service connect truckers with loads that need loads they want to pick up and deliver decision to try booking jobs through exists only for goods hauled to or to be transported and arranges for the — Uber tracks drivers’ cell phones, Uber Freight. “New players on the from the greater Los Angeles area and drivers or their trucking services to not only so customers can keep track block, you want to check them out the San Francisco and Sacramento be paid, Thomas said. of where their loads are, but also to real good. You want to make sure areas, not to the Central Valley, Right off the bat, he recounted, keep tabs on drivers between loads, you’re paid.” Central Coast and areas in the state’s the Uber program was somewhat so the company can call or text them And as truck delivery brokers most southern and northern regions. different in that everything could to inquire if they are interested in go, Uber checked out well, he said, be arranged over cell phones, picking up loads near them, Thomas noting, “Electronically, they do a Local opportunity which included drivers submitting said. fantastic job in tracking their trucks But that doesn’t mean truckers their bills and proof of delivery by And mostly the items Uber is trying and things like that. They are state from the Valley and those other areas photographing those documents with to move are things that need to be of the art in tracking their freight.” aren’t getting new business through their smart phones and sending them moved at the last minute and quickly, Uber Freight. in via emails. “usually at a premium price,” which Getting paid quicker The service is intended for larger In addition, while brokers generally the drivers also agree upon through He also praised the company’s trucks that can make short-haul post their excess freight needing to an online or computer app, he added. billing system, in part because his deliveries or long-haul deliveries, be delivered through online “load “I was curious. I wanted to see how even those going to or coming from boards” — where drivers look for it was set up,” Thomas said of his Trucking | 4 YOUR LOCAL PARTNER Helping promote successful business in the communities we serve! • Cash Management Products & Tools • Commercial and Agriculture Real Estate Loans • Business and Personal Interest Checking Accounts • Lines of Credit and Agriculture Production Lines of Credit • Loans up to $14 Million for Qualified Borrowers • Equipment, Construction and Development Loans Suncrest Bank is as local as you are. Our employees understand the unique needs of our local small businesses. Call us or stop by today to find out how we can help you grow your business. 663 W. NEES AVE., FRESNO • (559) 225-1700 www.suncrestbank.com 4 www.thebusinessjournal.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017 Trucking | from 3 And Faulkner said competition from Uber Freight could trigger administrative staff doesn’t have to changes from existing bookers to deal with mailing paper bills and make them more competitive. other documents to a broker, and FW But that’s not unusual, he said, Sell Today, Educate Tomorrow Trucking usually gets paid within as “We are constantly changing 15 days, a short time compared to in the trucking industry,” which is some brokers who don’t send him particularly true of “small guys” like his payments for as long as 90 days his business. or more. But Uber Freight isn’t open to all “I’m not having to worry on trucks — at least not yet. covering my operating expanses” - Sandler Rule #21 or to draw from a credit line to pay Uber’s specs drivers and cover other immediate Currently the company isn’t expenses while waiting for regular booking any loads that need to be brokers to send him his payments, transported in tanker, flatbed or Thomas said.