[bzbarsky]

The very fact-check you link to says:

> industry experts said that some owner-operators sought work elsewhere. Some fleets, too, chose to stop doing business with owner-operators in California.

where "stop doing business" is a link to an article about people doing just that.

And the "exemption" you mention is a temporary injunction that may be lifted at any time, which is not conducive to a stable business relationship.