What jobs can I get right after CDL school?
New Class A drivers in Southern California are hired fastest by port drayage companies out of Long Beach and LA, regional and dedicated-route carriers running the Inland Empire warehouse belt, LTL carriers, and food and beverage distributors. Class B graduates go to dump truck, ready-mix, roll-off, box truck delivery and bus work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at about $57,000 a year nationally, and California pays above the national median. Local, home-nightly jobs start lower; over-the-road and specialized freight pay more.
Where Nixon graduates go
- Port drayage - container moves between the ports and Inland Empire warehouses. Hires new drivers, home every night, high volume.
- Regional and dedicated - fixed customer routes for big shippers along the 10, 15 and 60. Predictable schedule.
- LTL - terminal-to-terminal and city pickup and delivery. Doubles/triples endorsement helps here.
- Food and beverage distribution - Class A and Class B, early starts, home daily, physical work.
- Construction and municipal - dump, water, and transfer trucks. Class B or A. Cities and construction fleets send their own drivers to Nixon for training.
Endorsements that raise the first offer
Hazmat and tanker together (the X combo) open fuel hauling and chemical work, which pays above general freight. Doubles/triples is what the LTL and parcel fleets want. Each is a knowledge test at the DMV and, for hazmat, a TSA check. See the endorsement courses.
How Nixon helps you get hired
We tell carriers that hire our graduates when a student is about to test, we help you build a clean driving-school-to-first-job resume, and we walk you through the DOT physical, drug screen and pre-employment paperwork so your first application is not your first mistake. We do not guarantee a job. Nobody honest does.
Realistic first-year expectations
Most carriers want a clean record, a DOT medical card, and either 21+ or a willingness to stay intrastate until then. Your first job is usually local or regional. Pay improves fast with a year of verifiable experience, which is why finishing training and getting that first job quickly matters more than holding out for the perfect one.
Related questions
Do I need experience to get hired?
Many drayage, regional and food distribution carriers hire straight out of school. Over-the-road and specialized freight usually want six months to a year.
Does Nixon guarantee job placement?
No. We connect graduates with carriers that hire from us and help with the paperwork, but hiring decisions belong to the carrier.
How much do new CDL drivers make in California?
The national median for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers is about $57,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). California is above that. First-year local jobs typically start below the median and rise with experience.
Reviewed September 2026 by Nixon Trucking School, Pomona CA. Fees quoted for the DMV and TSA change; check dmv.ca.gov and tsa.gov for current amounts.