Freightboss. After 40 plus years in General Aviation must agree with your statement " the last link in the safety chain is the person who opens the throttle". If these operators are so bad why is it no problem for them to aquire all the drivers they want?
Surely if it is known they are shonky operators you steer clear of them and get a job with a reputable Company, then hopefully good operators would not get their rates undercut, be able to pay a fair wage, get the work and hire more drivers into a good environment. Sometimes you must look from a high horse.