Correct. They're not really owners. They've "operators" which is like a manager, but worse. They're tied into the company financially.
Similarly, FedEx ground sells trucks and routes to independents. Sounds really great, but people have to bust their *** delivering alot more packages to pay off the truck and earn a living since FedEx controls how much independents get paid per package. Their entire FedEx Ground operation is made up of independent contractor drivers.
IMO, these are just shady ways to get people locked in without paying them benefits as an employees. Kind of like sharecropping.