If the regulations get too skewed against owner-operators you will see pressure to reverse it because a larger trucking company cannot always fulfill the demand properly.
There are some jobs which can only be fulfilled properly with the use of a single owner-operator.
But a lot needs to be done to change the truck manufacturing industry, and some outfits, or at least one anyway, are attempting to go with the change, and the change is increased efficiency.
A more fuel efficient truck benefits everybody.
Yes it does cost more at first, but contrary to Mech's assertion I think that eventually the more fuel efficient models will become competitive, because they will have to.
Again, I cannot emphasize this enough apparently:
The days of super cheap and readily available liquid fuel are coming to a gradual close.
It's all uphill from here, so ALL vehicles HAVE to become more efficient. There's no way around it.
Trucks will HAVE to be able to generate that 500 horsepower and 1500 foot pounds of torque with less fuel one way or the other, or else the cost of shipping by truck will no longer be economically feasible.
I could be wrong but I happen to believe that implementation of some kind of diesel-electric powertrain can be an answer and I believe that eventually it will be implemented at a competitive price.
