Seeking advice (new to the industry)

Check Careerbuilder website for jobs in your area.
The drink distributorships jobs pay well, Pepsi, Coke, beer, etc. but cause major back problems.
Grocery warehouse drivers make good money delivering to grocery stores. They have a transportation department to contact.
Food service, you're home most every day also, such as U.S. Food service, and those supplying Pizza places or other fast food joints.
If you live near a city, some produce warehouses have drivers delivering fresh produce to stores and restaurants.
A company called Greatwide, has many logistics divisions that aren't OTR. They have a pretty decent website to search.
Driving a mixer keeps you local, but the pay isn't that great. During bad winter months or bad stormy weather, you may not work much.
Hazmat/tanker hauling fuel to truckstops, gas stations, rail yards, would probably pay the best for local work.
A friend I once work with was making over $60K per year driving for Waste Management. That's probably way above the norm, but he was doing it.

Which city & state do you reside; perhaps some drivers on here can give you some leads.

 

If you have a strong back and don't mind considerable work and difficult deliveries, local beverage distributor work may be good if you can get in there with no experience. And sand/gravel hauling is not a bad gig at the right place, but there can be long slow periods due to poor weather and lack of contracts (poor economy) There's all sorts of regional, dedicated, and local options for new drivers at places like Schneider and if you're in the oil/gas patch, there's even more options but that work, while "local", can still mean little quality family time.

 

Keep an eye on Craig's List for local gigs.

 

Excellent location for local jobs. Plenty of logistics jobs. Schneider has some logistics there and also Greatwide. Both hire new drivers. Apply with all companies that interest you and ignore the "experience required."

 

I'm starting school and have been talking to many co's with the same goal in mind as you in terms of staying close to home. The co's are definitely out there at least in Texas. I don't know about IN. At this point I feel I have only scratched the surface so keep looking til you find a good fit.