Arizona newbie - is there hope for me?

I was recently laid off, for the last time, from a dot com, and this 58 yo vet thinks local driving might be just the thing to get my soul right again by working in a more sane profession.

I have no criminal record. I have 1 ticket for loud harley pipes 10 yrs ago (dismissed on a fix-it basis) and a photo-radar (pending) ticket from back in April 09 for driving "approx 66 mph" in a 55 on the freeway.

I am in ok shape, am drug and alcohol free and have a resting heart rate of 55, although I'm a little overweight (20 lbs). I am fairly intelligent, well spoken and can grasp mechanical things and processes and procedures, having been a prop-plane mechanic in the military.

I have this hope that somewhere in or near the Phoenix, Az, area, there might be firms willing to hire me. Maybe there are even firms who would train, then hire me, for a contracted relationship.

I don't think I want to go to the local truck-driving-and-beauty-school training establishment to obtain my CDL, as they probably want to fill seats in their classes, and do very little 'real placement' after you plunk down your hard earned $$$ and time.

I don't want to do OTR as my g/f would kill me, or worse, if I did. Is there hope for this Local Driver Wannabee?

Thanks, in advance for all advice!