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Best *major* cities with good job market for CDL A local?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by XenonOxide, Dec 1, 2025.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Dec 1, 2025 #1
    XenonOxide

    XenonOxide Light Load Member

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    Sep 13, 2022
    0
    I have enough OTR experience under my belt now to look for local driving jobs. I personally enjoy living in big cities compared to smaller places (too quiet/not enough to do), and I'm wondering what are good vs bad cities in terms of the supply vs demand of jobs.

    My impression is that Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Pittsburg etc would be examples of what I'm looking for. Am I missing anything? What's everybody's experiences?

    Also, I have had about a year's gap in my experience as I've been driving CDL B for the last year, (long story) is that gap going to affect hirers when looking at my resume?
     
    XenonOxide, Dec 1, 2025
    XenonOxide, Dec 1, 2025
    #1
    Lonesome Thanks this.
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  3. Dec 1, 2025 #2
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    77,074
    180,194
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Go where you don't have to pay state income taxes and can keep more of your paycheck for yourself.
    ~
    Nashville, TN
    Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
    Las Vegas, NV
    Sioux Falls, SD
    ~
    All the above have plenty of local jobs and a decent night life.
     
    Chinatown, Dec 1, 2025
    Chinatown, Dec 1, 2025
    #2
    OdderThan, Lonesome and XenonOxide Thank this.
  4. Dec 1, 2025 #3
    XenonOxide

    XenonOxide Light Load Member

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    Sep 13, 2022
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    cool I'll keep that in mind in my calculations
     
    XenonOxide, Dec 1, 2025
    XenonOxide, Dec 1, 2025
    #3
  5. Dec 1, 2025 #4
    lual

    lual Road Train Member

    5,134
    9,301
    Oct 22, 2020
    SW Georgia
    0
    The really bigger cities...in many cases...are now dystopias -- & thus, the smaller cities will generally be a better choice:

    • Nashville, TN
    • Mobile, AL
    • Reno, NV
    -- L
     
    lual, Dec 1, 2025
    lual, Dec 1, 2025
    #4
    Lonesome and XenonOxide Thank this.
  7. Dec 1, 2025 #5
    Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

    9,320
    30,027
    Jan 20, 2010
    Hesperia, Ca.
    0
    Food Service in any major city a Plus.
     
    Diesel Dave, Dec 1, 2025
    Diesel Dave, Dec 1, 2025
    #5
    XenonOxide Thanks this.
  8. Dec 1, 2025 #6
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    77,074
    180,194
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Most companies hiring for local work will hire you with that 12 mos. CDL-B because you have plenty of CDL-A prior to that. On the apps. list all CDL-A work plus the CDL-B work.
     
    Chinatown, Dec 1, 2025
    Chinatown, Dec 1, 2025
    #6
    XenonOxide Thanks this.
  9. Dec 1, 2025 #7
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    22,649
    120,836
    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    New York City.

    If you can drive there, you can drive anywhere in the world.
     
    Ridgeline, Dec 1, 2025
    Ridgeline, Dec 1, 2025
    #7
    Bean Jr. and Lonesome Thank this.
  10. Dec 1, 2025 #8
    tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    14,862
    28,798
    Jul 25, 2008
    Somewhere out West, in my mind.
    0
    look at a map of the USA. Look at the cities where 2 or more federal interstate highways cross. Those are often big cities with lots of transportation jobs.
     
    tscottme, Dec 1, 2025
    tscottme, Dec 1, 2025
    #8
    austinmike and XenonOxide Thank this.
  11. Dec 1, 2025 #9
    XenonOxide

    XenonOxide Light Load Member

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    Sep 13, 2022
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    Lol that's where I've been living the last year... And it's true I now can drive literally anywhere.

    Long story, moved there to be with my long distance partner, things went wrong and we broke up, and now I'm like, there's no way in hell I'm gonna stay there when rent is this insane
     
    XenonOxide, Dec 1, 2025
    XenonOxide, Dec 1, 2025
    #9
    austinmike Thanks this.
  12. Dec 1, 2025 #10
    Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

    4,544
    4,496
    Dec 27, 2007
    Elkhart, IN
    0
    Been there done that. Tough place. I wouldn’t recommend it. Drive around there long enough and you’ll nail the top of a couple of trailers on something.
     
    Brandonpdx, Dec 1, 2025
    Brandonpdx, Dec 1, 2025
    #10
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