Graduation in a week - still unsure of what direction to head in

Greetings from the St. Louis area!
This forum has proven to be an invaluable resource for me over the last year and I thank you all for your humor, insight, advice and knowledge.

I am about to start the final week of a 4 week/160 hour CDL school and am still a bit uncertain of what direction I want to head in with my license. Despite that uncertainty, this is something I’ve always wanted to do, in general - drive a big truck.

Last summer I nearly signed on with a mega carrier in exchange for the tuition to be paid - discovered this site over the weekend and opted to save my money, pay for it myself and be a free agent.

I really don’t feel OTR is a good lifestyle choice for me - but see that it’s advised to do so for a few months to a year to gain that experience to open up possibilities for local jobs.

I don’t have considerable debt, custody of an older child is shared 50/50 with his father, my house is paid off. I’m friendly enough with my ex spouse to arrange time away on the road for initial training if need be.

Being a recent divorcee all I’m really looking for is health benefits, 401k and money to support my simple lifestyle (the health benefits were lost when I divorced, I was self employed).

My school seems to be mainly comprised of company funded students, although they do offer job placement. I am looked at a bit blankly when I say I’d be happy with driving a trash truck or local dump trucks. I believe, not certain, that the school gets kickbacks from the big carriers thus pushing the few unsponsored students in that direction.

My exepectations for pay are not huge. I’m after benefits and everyday bill money. I’m doing this because I’ve always wanted to, in a very general way - truck driving of some sort. I’m doing this because I want to.

Do you think that the 6-12 months OTR experience is necessary to land a decent (30k+) local gig? My instructor Friday was a little discouraging when he said anything I’d find would likely be 16 hour days.

While I’m not opposed to hard work I’m not in a situation where I want to work those hours anymore. I’ve put them in in the past and am over it.

OTR wouldn’t work for me long term as I’m fairly content with my life, love my house and it’s conveniences. I was never one much for camping out or hotels. I could deal with it short term if it serves to set me up for success locally.

I could be quite content with (forgive me if I have the term wrong) line haul - driving the same route and home pretty regularly. I’m not opposed to missing a night or two away from home.

I would be pretty cool with physical labor, like dropping produce to restaurants , local deliveries, etc.

Does anyone know of these companies in the area - Beelman, Kuna, Sygma, Waste Management or Aspen? Advice? When should I start applying? After my CDL is in hand? Am I delusional to try to obtain local jobs upon graduation with no exeperience? I’ve never had a ticket, conviction or accident. I’ve been self employed for 12 years so my work history is stable.

Any advice is appreciated. I thank you all for your knowledge and experience, and saving my butt last summer when I nearly signed a contract with one of the most disreputable megas in existence.

Thanks!

 

Thank you @Mike2633.
In the recent past I was heavily into powerlifting - I don’t know if I’d be ‘good’ at unloading like that but could probably handle it at first with assistance of a dolly or something until my body acclimates. Is it all hand unloaded or do they use dollies?
The bigger concern is 16 hour days. I can, and will if necessary, but that wouldn’t be sustainable at 6 days a week forever.

 

Additionally, my school is geared to make me a CDL/steering wheel holder, they don’t get into backing up in real life, just enough to pass the test, practice is held in the same truck yard where we test at. Cones, painted lines, specific visual markers. Do the local companies train for real life backing?

 

Thanks again @Mike2633 - I truly appreciate your input and time.
I wouldn’t mind doing that at all, I truly enjoy physical labor but 20-40k without a dolly would probably kill me. Haha.
Sygma has been on the top of my radar being that there’s a location within a few miles of my house and I’ve heard (here on the forums) that the pay is within the range I’m aiming for. My school hasn’t had anything to say about them and I’m planning to research opportunities beyond what they offer before making a decision. I really don’t care to job hop a lot. My needs are fairly simple, close to home and I’d like benefits and exercise.
You’re great! Thanks again.