Is it possible to get a local job..

Of course. You can get one out of school too. Your area, your willingness to do ALOT of research, and luck all play a factor. I never went OTR. Lots on this board haven't as well.

 

Craigslist, Indeed, and your local unemployment office(even if you're employed, they will help you find a better job). People always seem to avoid the unemployment office, but companies actually get a tax break for hiring through them. For example in DFW quite a few companies only recruit through our workforce department.

 

Friend of mine got a local job off craigslist with 4 months experience. Out and back daily flat bed work. He loves it. Hourly pay.

 

Yes.

I'm a dummy who went OTR for a year and then "found" a local job 4 minutes from my home that hires drivers just out of school.

Some things to know about some local:

1) local does not necessarily mean you will only drive in your state. Depending on the route, I might be in three states on a route.

2) A lot of local jobs involve sticking a 53' in tight places. Backing or just spatial awareness is very important.

3) Night owl? My particular local job starts around 1:00 am and can go til 4:00 pm. If you have insomnia, like me, you'll be popping Benedryl to get to sleep at 3:00 pm so you can sleep before your route. This is actually the hardest part of my job.

4) Pay is pretty good. But, it's not OTR with a good carrier good.

5) 60 hour weeks are not uncommon.

6) Local driving may involve more than bumping docks. I have to deliver to stores. That involves me using a pallet jack or fork lift to off load my freight.

 

I've worked local since day one. Never even stepped foot inside a sleeper cab. Heck I've never even been to cdl school so yes it's possible. Pound the pavement. There is a good local job out there for you. You just have to find it.

 

Yes. Rock hauling, sand hauling, concrete plants, etc... You may have to start out in a dump truck for a handful of months, be a substitute for the end dump drivers from time to time until one of them quits and you can get moved into a real truck. Concrete plants and dirt work crews do that. Most of that is hourly around my area. I hear guys talk anywhere from $14 to $20 an hour.

 

Plenty of local jobs for cdl grads. Most don't pay too well and some pay exceptionally well.
Food service pays well and hires even cdl permit holders as driver helpers; they drive plus help the 1st seat driver unload. They're given 90 days to qualify for the CDL.
Look at these & keep in mind they do hire with no experience even if the website has "experience required."
Sygma Network
Sysco
U.S. Foods
Dean Foods Company
Reinhart Foodservice
McLane Foodservice
Gordon Foodservice
Labatt Foodservice
XPO Logistics - isn't food service, but runs ads for driver helpers and only cdl permit required.
Airgas Inc.
Milan Express
Loves Travel Centers sometimes hires drivers with no experience to pull tankers and deliver DEF to their truckstops. Couple of drivers on here were hired right out of CDL school for this.

 

Most of the guys I know started local. Either hauling gravel, logs or lowbeds. I have 1 relative who did a bit of regional and camp work before he bought his own rig and stayed local.

 

One of the biggest things people don't mention about being local is the quality of the equipment is sometimes bad compared to the shiny trucks that OTR companies offer...

That and you'll be backing into some tight spaces, and getting lost in a truck on a busy day is no fun