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

Parallel might be used sometime I'm not saying never but it's not very common.

Now if your doing side loaders for a beer or pop company you will use it.

Dry van or refer trailer that unloads out the back parallel is not as common. I'm not saying never, but not as common.

 

Don't fret over the backing, it will come in time with practice in the real world. If you do go the local route, doing food service or similar you will most likely be in a single axle daycab with a 45 foot or shorter trailer which makes it real easy to get around.

Most of the good local jobs will have an apprentice type program to provide in-house finishing of your skills especially if you get on with a LTL carrier. Many of them have dock to driver type programs, they hire you with the expectation that you will be a driver within 1 year and then spend that year molding you into their ideal driver while you work their dock, jockey trailers and build double sets in the yard. If you have a chance to get into one of those programs it may build your confidence, plus those companies have very low churn meaning most folks stay with them for the entirety of their careers.

The reason most schools hype the OTR myth is those companies are sponsoring many of these schools either directly or indirectly by providing equipment, job placement services and more. Most schools say they guarantee their graduates job placement help, they just don't tell you it will be with the bottom feeding mega carriers.

There are also other vocational type careers that you can use your cdl for and stay local, many companies need cdl drivers to support their operations and most truckers overlook these opertunities because they can't think past a typical trucking company. Places like the town public works department, state highway department, phone or electric utility all hire cdl drivers to move their equipment and support daily operations.

 

I applied to work for the city once. Your local state department of transport probably has opportunities.

 

There is so much more to professional driving then just moving freight. Many great careers are available but most overlook them because they require more than just holding a steering wheel.

Since you are not afraid of a little manual labor, and are articulate you should have no problem with a highly customer service focused driving job. Most folks that fail at the more specialized driving jobs, especially the ones where driving isn't the focal point of the job and customer service is, fail because they either can't or won't make the effort required to actually serve the customer. You seem like you will excel in a high touch type of job, 14 years of self-employment says a lot about your determination and customer service skill set.

Good luck, update the post when you get out of school please.

 

How about driving a box truck for like FedEx or UPS delivering locally? Have you contacted them?

 

Full-time Dockworker with CDL
City SAINT LOUIS, State MO
Apply online!
UPS Freight is hiring individuals to work as full-time Dockworkers with a CDL license. This position that involves the physical moving of freight into and out of trailers in a timely manner, by handling the freight manually, or using a forklift or hand truck. Forklift experience is not required but preferred. This position also involves the driving of a tractor-trailer and the daily pick up and delivery of freight from commercial and residential customers, as assigned Dockworkers with CDL are required to meet driver appearance standards when making deliveries to customer sites.

Candidates must be at least 21 years of age; must be able to read, write and speak the English language; must have a valid, Class A CDL, Haz-Mat, Twin Trailer, and Tanker endorsements required.

 

Fastenal - hires new cdl grads. Has local/regional/OTR.

Tractor-trailers/box trucks/pickup trucks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dock to driver program - no experience required:
Estes Express
Old Dominion Freight Lines
Holland
ABF
FedEx Express
FedEx Freight
XPO Logistics
Golden State Foods - sometimes hires new cdl grads to start as "driver helper" or "driver associate."

 

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
CDL Fuel Driver St Louis, MO 63101
Gemini Motor Transport operates trucks across the United States, servicing Love's Travel Stops, wholesale and retail customers. Our Fuel Transport positions are among the best in the industry. Gemini strives to achieve only the highest safety ratings in our business, for our professional drivers and loyal customers.
Read carefully; the ad says "experience OR cdl school grad!"
"2 years of verifiable over-the-road driving experience or certification from accredited truck driving academy."