How to find good “Under 100 employees” driving jobs?

With the vax mandate looming in Dec/Jan and me employed at a large carrier, how do I find good opportunities in the excluded driving market? I am hoping there will be an injunction and reversal or change of policy and I can stay at my current employer, YRC. I have a Class B now and should have my Class A before Dec. But I want to have a Plan B ready.

Please don’t clutter this thread up with a debate of the vax, Covid, Fauci or anything else. I had Covid already as has all my family and I have zero plans to get the vax, simple as that. This is a job search thread only.

Would a 1099 job circumvent the whole mandate issue? If so, are there reputable temp/placement agencies for 1099 drivers or carriers that routinely hire 1099s?Or will contractors to large carriers also be required?

If I want to find the best pay/conditions for small, <100 companies, where should I look? What industries are typically local and not a national branch and need Class A drivers? Most of the Indeed app job listings are from large companies. Stand on a street corner and note which company semis drive by? LOL

Any ideas are most appreciated. I don’t imagine small companies like that will have much in benefits but I would like to get decent pay at least while I gain that critical first year experience.
Plan A is to work at YRC. Plan B?????

 

Yeah, I am supposed to get a city delivery job after the CDL training and that is home every night. So probably no exemption. I’ve been in class the last two weeks and have heard nothing new on this mandate. 90% or more of the drivers I talk to here are strongly anti mandate although many got a vax.

 

That’s Plan A for sure. I would love to stay here if possible. YRC has been very good so far, no complaints. Really glad I have the chance to train in manual as all new trucks coming in will be autos. That would be great for a city route but being low man on the totem pole not likely for some years. Anyway, staying put until someone talks to me personally that I have to jab or walk.
If the weekly test was a spit test (as they do in the UK in some places) and $20 I would do that. Swab the brain via the nose—I won’t do that very many times.

 

Not necessarily:
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA4162.pdf

The ETS does not require the employer to pay for it. They may choose to, or state or local law or bargaining agreement may require they cover it.
The ETS only mentions employees. So apparently 1099 contractors to carriers are exempt. But it also says OSHA will look into applying it to small businesses eventually.

So are 1099 contractors all leasing their own trucks or do some just drive and fill in for multiple employers using the carriers trucks? Where do you find 1099 opportunities (the real ones not the illegal ones that are really underpaid employees)?