CDL-B rookie driver here looking for advice

I had problems landing jobs because of my lack of experience but now things are starting to open up a little. I received a phone call from Lowe's last week and they offered me a job delivering home appliances at 14.83/hr. It's actually a non-cdl position. It's a 24 ft box truck but it's under 26,000 lbs. I believe it's actually 25,500lbs.

I also had my name in at a staffing agency and they set me up with a liquid distributor but the pay is only 13/hr because it's through them and I have to wait about 3-5 months until I am a permanent employee to get their starting rate at 14/hr.

I had to turn down the offer. It was so hard for me to do because I think I would enjoy that type of work. However, he was explaining that they make 35 stops a day and typically work 12 hour days. I guess it's a no brainer to pick Lowe's at 14.83/hr but I just hope it still counts as experience driving a non cdl 24ft box truck. I think that it would.

My goal right now is to get a job driving a dump truck. I'm hoping I can get at least 15/hr. I could be completley wrong but I would assume that driving a dump truck you really won't have 12 hour days. Please correct me if I am wrong. What's the work like?? I hear that they hire candidates with no experience. I live in CT, I'm wondering what the going rate is to start. I really want to do this because I would have more of a Mon-Fri deal because it's not retail and I would be out after 8 or 9 hours of work. What do you guys think about all this?? All comments welcome. Thank you in advance!

 

I appreciate the advice from both of you. My plan for the future is to work at Lowe's and see how I like it. Take it from there day by day. Also put out my resume to as many dump truck outfits in my local area. The idea is to do less physical labor and more driving. Basically let the license that I earned get me the paycheck instead of my muscles. Hopefully I can find some steady full time work (I know things are slow but you never know) driving a dump truck come March/April and do it until things slow down in the Fall. At that time take on a job delivering home heating oil until that season ends in around April. I think this could be my best shot to make the most money and truly enjoy what I'm doing. I just hope I can get in with a dump truck outfit with my lack of experience.

 

Well my father drove for a local mom and pops place here in CT and he would get to work at 6 and be home at 3:30 every day like clockwork. Not saying you guys are wrong so please don't take it that way. Maybe my dad just got lucky where he was at??

I also can get in to State Dot which obviously isn't a "driving" position per say. I know those guys work 8:00 - 4:30 mon-fri.

 

Let me also add that if I am doing more driving and less manual labor then I am not going to mind OT. Especially if I am making 17-20/hr flat rate. The beer delivery I turned down right now because that is more labor and less driving and it's 13/hr. 13/hr is a joke. I was making 13.50/hr before I even got my CDL delivering medical equipment in a cargo van.

It's just a little sad that the pay rate is so low for some of these jobs. Granted, this was through a staffing agency so they made a dollar an hour off of me. When I got through the probation period I would start at 14.

Oh well, thank you all for the advice and insight. It is very much appreciated. I'll find what I need to do in due time.