The charge response of the ladders in Sr14-xCaxCu24O41 is characterized by dc resistivity, low frequency dielectric, and optical spectroscopy in all three crystallographic directions. The collective charge-density wave screened mode is observed in the direction of the rungs for x=0, 3, and 6, in addition to the mode along the legs. For x=8 and 9, the charge-density-wave response along the rungs fully vanishes, while the one along the legs persists. The transport perpendicular to the planes is always dominated by hopping.