Need advice on training and industry

Hello everyone. I am been very serious about joining the industry for months. I have talked to tech schools, private company training programs, tech colleges, and company paid recruiters, in 2 states (georgia, florida). I seem to be leaning on paying for the training privately, and it is really an ouch!! since I was laid off a year ago and I don't want to sign a contract and be stuck with no miles or a bad company. I believe it will give me the best opportunities, however, I am afraid of spending the money and not getting a job. The schools get their money either way and they all boast of a 98 percent placement rate which is hard to verify. Another concern is that the industry has alot of experienced truckers which seem to wait a long time for loads.

I am thinking of regional loads so I have some decent home time once in a while, but I hear they are hard to get, and I am not sure about how local jobs would pay or if I would even be a candidate until I got about a years experience.

The schools also claim you can start out 35K to 45K the first year, but I wonder too if that is accurate. I would also like to take a pet if I can't get home and I appreciate the pet friendly list that I found on this site, and I know the pet won't be able to go until I complete my training which I am told usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks. Again, I don't know if that is accurate.

One additional dilemma, I have been offered by a remote family member to work for his trucking company after I take the CDL, and he wants me to take the test without the formal training, and he will assist me with his equipment for testing anmd practice purposes. I have been studying all the CDL tests for weeks, and I am passing 90 percent. I am afraid if I do this route it is cheap, and will work, but will other trucking companies hire me later if I ever leave his employ or if we ever have a falling out?

Would appreciate all advice. I have been driving big equiptment for 15+ years just not semi's. Like 5th wheel toyhaulers, large horse trailers, and a forty foot diesel pusher hauling a 32 foot cabin cruiser.