[Packmule]

FastRod,

It's called a LEASE. When you sign with one company you are bound by the terms of that lease. If you have your own authority you can sub lease to any company you like to haul their freight under your authority and Insurance. Big difference! When you sign with a carrier and and do not feel you are still an independent Contractor, re-read your lease. You signed it, It didn't change, If you didn't like what it said in the first place you shouldn't have signed it.
If the Carrier is doing things differently than what is stated in the Lease, then you need to have a discussion with them that will get you both back on the same page.
I agree with you that sometimes we really don't feel like a true Independent Contractor, but it's the way this business has evolved. Sometimes you just have to grin and bare the bad things, and be thankfull for the Good things.

Keep on Truckin'
Danny