Need Some Advice

This may get kind of long, so be forwarded. I'll try and be as brief and consise as possible .

● 62 years of age

● Retired military. 20 years

● In manufacturing x 20 years

● Manufacturing job steadily going South, decided to go into truck driving for multiple reasons, (Upside income potential, autonomy , multiple potential career paths, relative job security, relative "recession proof" etc. I thought long and hard about it, (20 years), and did as much due diligence "homework" etc. As I could.

● Went to Prime Inc. last July. Went through PSD, (Prime Student Driver) approximately 10 days before going back to test out. Received minimum training, just basically holding a steering wheel. Received zero instruction in back in until I got ready to test out. White Knuckled it through the "testing out" phase, passed and received my CDL'S.

● Went back out with same trainer for TNT training (40,000 miles) Received minimum instruction on backing as well as opportunity. Most of the time? Was told to move over, get out of the way, and e even "Get the #### out of the way. Trainers voiced concerns were:

~ Taking too long
~Holding up other drivers at shipper, receivers, truck stop.
~Typically given less than two or three minutes before being told to get out of the way.

● So happens that in process of transitioning jobs ~ careers, a move from Alabama to Mississippi was necessitated, a long with a "financial re-boot / re-set"

Put everything in storage, turned over residence. No dependent children nor grandchildren. Wife went to stay with Son / DIL, and Daughter + Grandkids.

● Out of consideration primarily over finances and "financial reset / reboot? Decided to stay on truck with trainer through Winter. But also to gain experience driving in Winter Driving, as well as overall training / experience

● Drawing a straight $700 a week "training pay " an additional $300 a week "Bonus Pay" (for staying on truck through Winter. Total of $1000 a week (Gross)

● Winter / Bonus pay of $300 ends somewhere around the end of March / April

● Because I stayed on the truck through Winter? I didn't upgrade from a "B" seat driver to an "A" seat driver. Because of this fact? None of the last seven to eight months count towards fulfilling my contractual obligation to Prime of nine months, (Nine months for military veterans under Prime's Fast Trac program, 12 months for everyone else)

● Meanwhile I was involved in a work related accident (I wasn't driving) which put me out on Workmans Comp for approximately 2 to 3 months

● Trainer wants me to stay on truck with him as a team driver, once I upgrade to an "A"seat driver when I go back. Offer is $700 a week, with another $300,...........(UTT) for a total of a flat $1000 a week , with some vague talk of a bonus for anything over 6k miles per week.

Sum game is I'm a licensed CDL holder with 8 months OTR experience (Reefer with auto transmission restriction)

When I do go back? I still have zero experience with backing, docking, plus I will, still have 9 months contractual obligation to Prime OR cough up $4800.

Have zero interest in being a trainer, driving ~ hauling tankers, flat beds, doubles, triples. Nor am I interested in pursuing becoming a lease operator or O/O.

Not really interested in doing teams, but I will as a means to an end.

Haven't any issues with bring OTR, but ideally would like to find something regional, dedicated, or even local in the South or Southeast. Would prefer something that keeps me out of "Winter Driving" and out of the NW and ME.

The above wouldn't have to be an instantaneous ~ overnight thing, but more of a "transitioning "

Preferably based out of Mississippi , specifically McComb, Brookhaven or Western Mississippi in general.

If you've read this far?

Thank you.

Interested in hearing any ideas, thoughts, suggestions, opinions, etc.