Local driving for new cdl holder

Go with Class A. It will give you more options. What area are you in? That will help people refine your options. In the meantime...check out LTL carriers (I.e. ABF, SEFL, Old Dominion, etc.).

Another thing...get all of your endorsements before you finish school. Get them all...even if something (i.e. Doubles and Triples) sounds as appealing to you as eating a **** sandwich. I say that because early in my CDL class...I said "I have no interest in screwing with doubles and/or triples." Fast-forward a few weeks...I found a good deal with a local carrier (SEFL) that requires drivers to have doubles and triples endorsements. Screwing with the little "pup" trailers doesn't seem like such a big deal now.

My advice is to always keep your options open. Getting a Class B does not do that as well as a Class A.

 

IF you are in good shape Beverage or food companies would be a good bet

 

I agree with Bubbagumpshrimp go ahead and get class A you will have a lot more options. Even if you decide to drive a class B, someday you may change your mind and wanna drive a class A truck. It may save money & training time in the long run. I'm attending a tech school now and really enjoy the training. All the recruiters that came to my school all offered something different just decide what you truly want & even look into ones that say they require one year experience, you will be shocked who may give new guys a chance. Good luck!

 

Keep in mind, those cement mixer jobs are low wage jobs. Probably be OK if the wife has a good job.
Here's some local jobs:

Comcar
Southeastern Freight Lines
Pepsi Beverages Co.
BBA Aviation - tanker
TopGear Logistics
YRC Freight - dock worker
NAPA Auto Parts
Monterey Mushrooms
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group
Brown Distributing Co. (beverage)
Averitt Express
Amerigas
The Ice Cream Club - 3 days out

I looked over some of these jobs/websites and YRC, Southeastern, Monterey Mushroom, Averitt, looked the best. Some I'm not familiar with, so they may be good also.
If you need good money fast, look at Florida Beauty Express. One new driver posted recently his first paycheck was $1700.00 but its OTR home weekends.

Get the Class-A because it's also good for Class-B. Decent jobs require Class-A.

 

There are always jobs at smaller companies that need local drivers and most are easier to convince to take a new cdl holder, hell my boss is happy just to get drivers that show up every day.

 

If you are coordinated and fairly strong, a foodservice gig will get you $800-1200 a week (depending on your route). I started off local (beer and food service), went OTR, went back local (dump truck and heavyhaul) and now back OTR. The dump truck gigs dont pay worth anything, and if you are paving, it requires that you be able to climb up the side of the bed with 1 hand and carry a heavy duty sprayer to spray down your bed so the asphalt doesnt stick.

You know, one thing that running local and OTR have in common is, when you get home, you dont want to go anywhere. That will cause an argument. You will want to just lay around and relax, and the lady has a whole list of places that she wants you to go, and big weekend plans. And you will just wonder, "Babygirl, cant you just lie beside me, shut up, and let me sleep?"

The thing I miss the most OTR isnt my family...it's that iron. I miss the discipline that comes from weight training.