Los Angeles wannabee - taking the plunge; tips and advice welcomed.

I'm a computer programmer by trade, but I can no longer resist the call of the open road. My maternal grandfather and all my uncles were heavy duty diesel/marine mechanics and big-rig drivers, and I do love the sound and smell of a finely tuned diesel engine. I have a class B license (with Passenger endorsement) and spent a few years driving transit buses before going into programming; I have maintained my class B license because I drive my church bus every so often. I am very mechanically inclined and have done brake jobs, clutch jobs, tune-ups, fuel-pump replacements, etc., etc. I have arrived at a place where I'm sick of driving a computer and wish to experience the sight, sound and smell of a big diesel engine. I have a couple of close friends who are working for an oil company in Louisiana, and I can get a job with them if and when I decide to do so; they are both class A drivers. In order to improve my hire-ability and ensure that I increase my options, I would like to get a class A license before heading down to Louisiana. I know you all are sick and tired of answering questions about CDL Training schools, so I apologize for asking more questions along that line. Has anyone heard of 'Orange County CDL Truck Rental, LLC' (https://www.facebook.com/OrangeCountyCDLTruckRental)? They seem to be relatively new, and offer CDL training. I am alos looking for any tips or advice on cost effective CDL training in Southern California.
Thanks in advance.

 

Thanks, Chinatown. I plan on getting all the endorsements and TWIC.

 

I took my California DMV Class A CDL Pre-trip, Skills and Driving tests yesterday (10/06/2014) and I am now the proud owner of a freshly-minted Class A CDL with all the endorsements. I already applied for the Hazmat certification and received a positive response from TSA yesterday also. I will now apply for TWIC today and should get it within the next month. Thanks Chinatown.