New guy from SoCAL

You do have a choice. So many companies needing drivers. Here's a few to check and apply to as many as you want; the more the better. If any website has "experience required" just ignore it and apply anyway; website may not be up to date plus many companies are bending their own hiring rules these days.
Danny Herman Trucking - dry van and has some of the best freight lanes a driver can ask for and no Northeast runs either.
Dynamic Transit - terminal in Los Angeles
KKW Trucking - dry van running western states and Texas.
Freymiller - trucks really set up nice for driver comfort.
Mountain Valley Express - line haul and usually just runs CA,AZ,NV.
Jim Palmer Trucking
TWT Refrigerated Service - solo drivers pretty much stay in western states.
Watkins-Shepard - dry van
J&R Schugel
Britton Transport
Schuster - nations largest ice cream hauler
Pride Transport
Trimac Transportation - tankers and big paychecks and hire new cdl grads. Probably $65K - $75K per year even for a new grad. Visit a terminal if you can. There's probably a couple around your area. I know Gardena has a terminal. @ethos knows where the terminals are.
Do the online applications, then follow with a phone call. Apply to as many as you want; the more the better. Take the best offer.

 

You may want to get your HazMat and TWIC Clearance done. In California the HazMat Clearance is processed and they electronically send it to DMV. You don't have to have your CDL yet, you can do it with a Class C. If you do it now, when you test for HazMat they already have the clearance on your record and will apply it to your CDL. If you do it after you get your CDL, it is one more visit to DMV you can avoid.