Getting started here... maybe TLDR?

Howdy folks! I've been lurking here for a week or so and decided to go ahead and make an account. I was a bit baffled that there's an active forum like this regarding a career, but pleasantly surprised and glad this resource is available. I took a few minutes to write down my situation and questions, so this thread is kind of forming itself into - I don't know what initially... but hopefully not only myself, but others will benefit from any info discussed.

- My situation/about me currently -

I'm in my mid 40's - worked in IT/tech for 15 years after leaving the Army in 2000 (honorable discharge). I quit my last tech job of almost 6 years to move across country in order to assist a family member with an illness, so didn't work for an extended period. I was already sick of that industry and due to not being networked out here in the PNW, I've not had any lucrative job leads. Kinda stuck as that career path seems to have dried up (and I've severly lost interest), and the only thing in the area I can get are jobs that pay about $500 a week or less. I'm also getting a bit old in the bones for manual labor gigs (not to mention, out of shape from a desk job for almost 2 decades). I'm currently living with family, but with my current employment options don't really have a reasonable way to get back on my own again. I am currently employed full time, but don't see much in the way of a career working in a plant/warehouse, and am kinda running out of time to get out of my current living situation.

I paired down my belongings when I moved to the west coast as I only could bring with me what would fit in a miata (including myself and my dog - she's gone now... they don't last as long as us). Which means I don't have a lot of junk I'd need to put up in storage

I started looking into getting a CDL and trucking as a new career path with the intent of basically living in the truck (no need to be 'home' every weekend, and could feasibly stay out for months at a time if not longer). The goal is to bank as much money as possible while cutting down on most 'normal' expenses like rent/utilities/etc of normal home life.

I'm looking to get into OTR, solo work, as a company driver for the next year/2 years to gain experience - in case that helps with advice/guidance.

-no kids/pets/girlfriend/wife/exwife/S.O.
-no mortgage/car payment/cc bills/rent/utilities
-very low debt - and currently no bill collectors hounding me - less than $1500 max - probably less than $1000
-no troubles with the law (never arrested, no drug/alcohol use)
-clean driving record (I was involved in one accident about 4 years ago, completely the other driver's fault - he blew a red light and t-boned my car) - haven't even been pulled over/ticketed in over a decade. No suspensions.
-have a home address I can continue to use while on the road (WA state so no state income tax)

expected expenses (if I sell my vehicle)
Food/toiletries/OTC medicines (dayquil/advil/etc)
Laundry
Clothing
Cell phone/broadband
addictive chemicals (nicotine, caffeine, sugar)
boredom prevention devices (mostly internet/youtube here, but also have a racing drone addiction)

- Initial Questions -

1. Would it be a bad idea to sell my current car? The car is paid for and has no lien. This would pad my bank account (probably only $2500-$3000) while at CDL school/training, and would mean not having to pay insurance on a heap that's sitting while I'm out on the road - which other than visiting family from time to time that's likely where I plan to be from start through the next year or so... The main inconvenience here would be getting to the store to pick up supplies, but I'm hoping that's something I can just bobtail to a walmart/target/costco/etc - thoughts on this particular issue are definitely encouraged...

2. I'm looking to get started as quickly as possible (after taking care of a few needed purchases, like new eye glasses/refresh on clothing/stuff needed for packing list/etc) and am interested in company provided training. So far Swift seems to be the best fit here, but looking into CFI as well. If I end up with swift, my terminal would be in Sumner, WA (about a 30 min drive from my current residence) and the closest Swift Academy to me is Lewiston, ID - about 6-7 hours drive. I've not yet spoken to any recruiters as I'm trying to get as much 'honest' info as I can first, but do know the general run down of school/training/etc for most of the starter companies - they all 'seem' to offer the same general thing... Any recommendations that would sway me between swift or CFI - or are there other companies that would be a better fit for a rookie?

3. I've been looking through the help threads here and there, but haven't completely found my way around these forums yet, so please bear with me (a lot of the threads I find on subjects of interest are getting close to a decade old as well) - Is anyone able to comment on current CPM vs weekly milage with Swift/CFI once solo? (I don't plan on turning down any loads as a newbie)
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I'm sure I have a billion other questions, but trying to keep it to a minimum - what I'm asking above is mostly for opinions in light of my situation highlighted above. If you made it through this giant blurb of words - thank you for taking the time to read it!

 

Heya Dan,

Selling that car has been on my list of things I need to do for a while - but wouldn't be replacing it for a while if I go the trucking route as I'd want to just save money before paying cash for something a lot more reliable - not to mention having it sitting while I'm gone is likely going to be a liability, as well as a point of contention if parked in front of my 'house' for extended periods - If I were to go the Swift route and use their school in Lewiston, I'd likely drive there and not sell the car until I graduate (basically sell it between graduation and getting set up for orientation/mentor out of sumner).

If there are any threads you or others have come across regarding not owning a personal vehicle (pros/cons), or anyone with experience here you can point me to, please let me know (all my current searches end up with results regarding hauling cars, so my search-## isn't very strong here yet lol).

I'm mainly looking into companies that provide CDL training w/ repayment like swift and cfi due to my timeline and limited resources financially to get started. It would take me a while to save up 4-6 grand while still taking care of expenses here just to go to a local school, and I'd rather be on my way out of this living situation sooner than later as waiting puts me at a disadvantage. I am aware of the 'no free lunch' clause of this and that I'd be paying it back over the course of the following year driving for them.

 

See, THIS is why I started this thread Adding Prime to the list and researching them now - looks like they also offer CDL training as well - 43cpm sounds a lot higher than what I expected to see as a new driver - not sure I can believe that blurb on their website of '$700 a week minimum guaranteed' but reading more into it now.

If it doesn't work - I'm kind of out of options already as it is. I'm not completely opposed to a private school though... just not sure how I'd work paying for it up front just yet. Gears are turning though!

 

courtesy cars definitely make the idea of not owning a POV a lot less of an issue! Glad to hear that's an option with some companies (and something else to add to the list of things to ask/look for in a company).

 

I mentioned Swift and CFI as examples only because they're the only 2 (that I've not read completely horrible things about yet) that I'd heard of (other than bad/worse ones like CR England) - part of my intention on starting the thread was to generate a list of potential employers that are recommended considering my current situation. Adding Jim Palmer and Prime to the list!