Well guys, it's decision time....

Well.. one solution would be to do the school, supposing that it's local and you'll be commuting each day.
You could do the 8-5 school, or whatever the hours are, and then go to work for 6-8 hours elsewhere to keep the income flowing.
If trucking is your long term solution, then you have to endure the hardships to attain your goal.
Your family still has financial needs, too.
It's your responsibility to see those are met.
Working back to back shifts might not seem ideal, but these trucking days are NOT 8hrs long.
Getting used to pulling 14s may be a plus

There's one solution.
Next up.

 

I worked two jobs and did the trucking school at a community college on the weekends. No sleep for about two months. As said, good experience. Look around, where there's a will, there's a way.

Maybe there's a dock to truck program by you. Post your location for @Chinatown.

 

Granted, I didn't have any dependents (or real bills) when I went to the CC for my CDL...BUT... After a couple weeks of trying to go to 'school' and work nights, I gave up on the notion and left my night job to do scrapping. It doesn't sound in the least bit glamorous, and it isn't, but if you're diligent and willing to tear shtuff apart theres decent money in picking up household appliances and turning in their various, SEPARATE, components. (steel/aluminum/copper)
Anything and everything made of metal is recyclable and you get paid to idle up and down city streets, ridding them of unwanted cash.

 

If there's a will, there's a way.
Quitting your job should not be an option.
Work it out

 

The community college route is viable.

Or, if you know where you want to go to work and they'll insure you without a school, just take the test and get your CDL. There is no requirement for school, other than some carriers because of insurance.

 

Thank you for bringing up the community college option.

I was going to mention it, but you beat me to the punch.

 

The school I went to had day classes, evening classes and weekend classes. It might be tempting to go to work for a company that has a school, but then you owe them a year or even two and if you hate them, it will suck. Many companies have a program that pays you back for a student loan.. my company pays 100 bucks a month. There is a federal grant program that pays for trucking school, if you qualify financially, and since it usually runs thru thr unemployment office, sometimes they can help with other expenses. Trucking pays pretty well, in my book.. I make about a grand a week with benefits, so your wife may want to keep that in mind as you all tighten your belts for the month of school and month of training. Getting hired fast isnt usually a problem... but really research the companies. Make sure it fits the kind of trucking you want to do. My company does otr, so you're never home, or dedicated runs so you're home on weekends, depending on where home is. But we are a team operation so you have to be prepared for that. But there are lots of jobs that require a cdl... even lots of home daily jobs. A flavor for every taste, I always say.

 

Good for you; A good idea for some. Believe it or not, there are video's on Youtube on scrapping.
Not everyone is cut out for this. Lots of mindless separating prep work; power tools rule here.
A lot of hard work - for a little bit of money. (Sounds like trucking, huh?)
Your location, zoning, or neighbors may be a killer for this idea, too.
I've done this on some of my idle/down time since 1983.
Pennies DO ad up to Dollars.

Freightliner Rollback tow truck 26,000 G.V.W. helps open doors, too.

Back in August, a guy bought an eyesore trailer park, and demo'd nine 12 X 65 house trailers.
He took an excavator, and dumpsters, and removed the house trailer bodies.
I bought the 9 twisted frames ,aluminum siding, and wiring from him for $200.00.
I torched it all up into short steel, and run in 4 loads to scrapyard and made 6 times that.
The aluminum alone cashed out for more than the cost I had spent to get the "IN."
I kept two of the 1 - 1/2" dia. 60 foot wires, that runs power from trailer toungue to breaker box,
that I bought new connector ends for, to use as giant 50 amp extension cords - for my 220 welder.
I scrapped out all the household wire, that filled two plastic 55 gal. drums, for $350.00.
Upside is - you work for yourself, and what you make is all you.
You move your ###, and it's worth it.

 

If you are a man of faith, I don't really see the problem.
Doesn't faith get you through anything?
Can't the smallest amount of faith move a mountain?

If you tell me your definition of faith, I will tell you mine.