This, sadly, is about as bad as I gathered from casual conversations with OTR drivers (truck stop was midway between home and a place we were AirBnBing just to pay taxes - so this was on go-be-a-maid runs).

This was back when those electronic monitors got introduced - and the drivers were unhappy they couldn't do what they wanted with their logs. I guessed it was mostly because they had the choice between finagling logs and going broke. I was hoping to be wrong, but I guess not.

Since then, I've gotten to know a couple of retired railroad workers. It seems they weren't getting screwed. Long hours, but OT. I'd guess there being a union had something to do with that.

Thanks for laying this out so clearly.