Serious wannabe with the "drive" saying HI!

Hey everyone! I will admit being extremely new to both the trucking world and this forum, but I've logged at least ten hours of time in the past three days checking out this forum and I believe it's priceless. The people here, for the most part, rock!
I'm currently a line cook who's set up to go into management but I think that 30k a year at 55+ hours a week isn't worth the hassle. I'm trying to get a job that will get my wife through school and I have a PASSION for driving. Being behind the wheel of anything always makes my day.
I've made contact with several CDL schools as well as a few companies who train and I'm learning quickly who to stay away from in order to make sure I don't collapse in the attempt to become an O/O. I have a good friend who's a day driver and she gave me the info for Schneider, who started her up and who she talks up regularly, as well as the info for her current company, Bryan Systems. They apparently train up as well and she says they treat her very well!
I plan on contacting quite a few people tomorrow morning before work and will update this thing simply because I can, keeping this current with what information I've retrieved and when and where I'll be getting my license and working. I hope to make some good friends on here... there seem to be some awesome people here who I'd really like to know better! For now though, hello everyone! Hit me up, let's talk, swap ideas, and anyone with advice is ALWAYS welcome!

 

RickG, I have been reading your posts and seeing how much negativity you throw down on newbies. I understand your realism but still think you're too much of a pessimist for your own good. And to clarify, I don't expect to be making more than 30k working only 55 hours a week. I expect to be working way more hours than that going OTR, possibly only being home a few days a month. However, I've been working kitchens since I was 15 and I'm very honestly entirely burnt out on it.
When I look at driving I see a rough start ahead of me, no doubt about it. Getting into almost any job right now is tough. The thing is, I am at the point where I hate the culinary field so working any hours there just frustrates me and wears me out. It's some back-breaking labor, especially right now, through the winter. We are in our busy season and every day I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off because I talked my boss into cross-training me on everything two years ago. I know I'll have corporate troubles with a company. I understand that the newbies to this industry are the ones who get dirt kicked in their faces daily. I firmly believe in the opportunity to prove yourself though, in any profession, and I love working. Couple that with the fact that I'm a bit anal retentive about perfectionism and I love driving and I think I've got a shot at proving myself if I start off in the right place.
RickG, I see the support you throw at the posters in the O/O thread. I see the opportunity and the community that is had here. And I see the wise drivers supporting themselves and large families comfortably. That is my goal. No matter what it takes, I want to be standing there beside them and you. Not trying to get in quick, just trying to make it work. I understand that it WILL probably take two years of being a slave for a newbie station to get into a truly decent job. But, with everything I'm worth, I'm gonna try. I respect you, and everyone on this list, and I know the odds with what I'm getting into. Time will tell, I guess...
Thanks to everyone for saying hi!
And Halfburn, if you have any questions about working in restaurants, feel free to ask. I have a wealth of information about how the food industry works.

 

By the way, how does the thanking thing work on this website? I understand about posts giving you private messaging, but I don't even see the buttons for thanking. Any guidance would be much appreciated!