Looking for sound advice on where to start.

I'd pester a good ltl outfit and start there.

 

Is Watkins shepherd strictly otr or do they do local and regional also?

 

It's very possible , I had one for 33 years...But , there are trade off's...mine was the pretty strenuous physical labor involved...but the schedule , the benefits , and especially the pay vs the time worked was well worth that trade.

 

Wrong there sir....My local job paid in the 70k + a year range. I ran 3 trips a week....Monday ( long trip 12 to 13 hours ) , Tuesday really short day ( 7 to 8 hours ) off Wed. Then the same route as Mon. On Thurs. Then off Fri. Sat. Sun.....Oh and BTW I'm 65...retired from that job after 33 years in 2011...so I was 63 years old and still going strong....Make sure you know all the facts about all the different kinds of trucking before handing out advice or being critical of those that you know nothing about.

 

You talk like such a troll!
Stick that #### up your ###.

 

Well, never mind then. If there are 8 hour, Monday-Friday, 70k semi truck jobs out there, right out of CDL school, than please let the world know where they are.
I have been flatly told by every instructor, recruiter and employer I have spoken with that they do not exist.
Big difference when you have 20+ years exp.
Good luck on your job search.