The loads hauled by these truckers aren't going to magically vanish because the employment laws have changed, which would strongly suggest there will be about the same number of jobs in the end, since the same amount of work still needs to be done.
> Many would have to abandon $150,000 investments in clean trucks
I read this as: truckers will no longer be expect to supply their own $150,000 trucks to get into the business.
> and the right to set their own schedules
I read this as: truckers will no longer be expected to "comply with the laws, wink wink" to meet impossible schedules in ways that legally aren't the contracting company's fault.
> Many would have to abandon $150,000 investments in clean trucks
I read this as: truckers will no longer be expect to supply their own $150,000 trucks to get into the business.
> and the right to set their own schedules
I read this as: truckers will no longer be expected to "comply with the laws, wink wink" to meet impossible schedules in ways that legally aren't the contracting company's fault.