Passed my written test - now i need some advice.

Id like to thank you all for reading and accepting me!

Im 28 and live in my parents basement apartment with my girlfriend whom i will soon marry. Things here are very rough and we need to start making more money to pay off our debt and actually go out and get our own place. The apartment has black mold problems which is terrible for our health....and we are also down here with some animals that we fear could be damaging to them long term. Its time to get on with my life and have my own place.

Ive been doing customer service for years and decided after much thinking and asking around that i would love to get my CDL. I love being out on the road alone and a honest hard days work.

My plan was to get my CDL-B with air brakes first - drive some straight trucks to get used and comfortable to it. and then add some endorsements and finally go to CDL-A.

Ive had so much trouble finding a truck to use for the road test. Everyone i meet that has a CDL is over 40 and says "Sorry son, i was grandfathered in....i didnt even need to take the test" I then found a school that would train me for 3 hours and let me use their truck for the test for $400. I have a brother in law who can let me drive the straight truck around his lot after hours to get my good practice in but cant take me out on the road. So i figured ill get comfortable with him, and then take the 3 hours of school to get acquainted with the road and use their truck for the test.

but then my brother in law tells me "With a CDL B the most i ever got was $15 an hour" Now for some reason....i have it in my head that im gonna be wasting some time and money doin the CDLB thing for a while and THEN going to CDLA if the "real" money is in CDLA and bigger endorsements. but then again....ive heard from many truckers that "you make more money with an 18 wheeler than a straight truck" is a very big misconception.

I know its not all about the money....but my life and relationship depend on me bringing in more than $15 an hour ASAP. Should i just start right out with the CDL-A and full endorsements?

Are there any companies that will train you from CDL-B to CDL-A for no charge and hire you?

What type of pay scale can i expect in the NJ/NYC area for a brand new CDL driver?

Any help or opinions will be greatly appreciated. Ive been trying to get off my ### and do the CDL thing for about 4 years now and ive finally made it. So i thought this would be the best place to turn.

Thanks alot!

 

are there any companies out there that will train you for CDL-A and hire you? Im not asking for specific oppertunities but - is there such a thing?