Complete newbie here, looking for some advice.

Hello all,

First of all, I would like to say that I have been looking around this forum for a few weeks, and have to say I'm glad I found it! It seems like one of the friendliest places on the 'net. I have absolutely zero experience in the trucking industry, and I'm looking for a bit of advice to see if driving a truck would be the right fit for me.

I don't have a CDL or anything at all - I'm an outsider right now looking for a way in. I'm making some long-term decisions for myself right now. I'll just throw out the pros and cons real quick, to give you an idea of where I'm coming from -

Pros:
-I'm kind of a "lone wolf", someone who only depends on others when he has to. I don't have a wife or kids to go home to, and though I would like to be home every now and then, home time is not a priority.
-I'm not looking to get filthy rich. I've lived on meager income before and I just want enough to get by.
-Once I have something to do, I stick with it to the end. Training will be tough I know, but I feel like I can make it.
-Here's the big one: I feel like I belong on the road. I always loved being out travelling, and I know it's kind of corny, but I feel the road calling to me. I can deal with all the politics and red tape if I can just be on the road.

Cons:
-I'm 23. I went to college for a while (longer than I care to admit...) and I just quit last semester. School is just not my thing. I don't know how much of a drawback that will be...I'm moving back to my hometown (Columbia, TN) in December, and I was thinking of getting an associates' degree at the community college there, because something is better than nothing at all. In your opinion, would it be better for me to take care of that first, then make a decision about whether or not to become a trucker?
-I'm a real nice guy - the kind that will let someone walk all over him. I know that won't fly in this business.
-I understand that this probably isn't the greatest time to be in the industry, the way gas prices are and the shape the economy's in...
-I'm in Middle Tennessee. Kind of a dead zone for terminals, because as far as I know, there aren't any major ones in Nashville. Covenant (yuck) is based in Chattanooga, Crete has one in Knoxville and Watkins Shepard have terminals in Dalton, Ga just 20mi out of Chattanooga and one in the middle of nowhere in Northern MS. A bit of a drive from here...Atlanta has a ton I know but it's a little too far.

I was also wondering if I could get some advice on training for a CDL, and where to train. I would have to save up a few thousand $$ just for the training, so it might be a while before I get started anyway.

I guess that's all for now. Thank you in advance!

 

Yeah, I actually saw a commercial for Averitt the other day. Well, maybe I'm not in as bad of a place as I thought. Shows you how much I know.

I forgot to mention: there is a local carrier in the town I'm moving to. I've heard it might be a good idea to start local for about a year and then move on to the bigger companies.

I've got to go to work now. I'll be back much later tonight to check on the thread. Again, any advice for a complete newbie is appreciated. Thank you!

 

Ah, thank you for the replies Dr. Venture. I didn't think a degree would mean much here, I just wanted to make absolutely sure before I progress. I'm...not sure I can afford training right now, so I might have to sign a contract and sell my soul for 1 year + to one of these companies.

By the way, I love The Venture Bros. Brilliant show, though it can get a little weird sometimes.