Best route to obtaining a CDL in Southern Middle Tennessee?

Well, I have been considering trucking off an on for several year now, and I think I am finally ready to pull the trigger once my college semester ends in early May. I am located in Lawrenceburg, TN and am weighing my options for the best route of obtaining my CDL.

Too long, didn't read: what's the best course of action, with $3000 and no living expenses, of obtaining a CDL for someone in southern Middle TN?

More about me:
23 years old pizza delivery driver
Should have a little under $3000 in cash saved up by then
Probably not able to get financing. Mediocre credit rating and very unstable and substantial income history
Not very steady work history, mostly part time jobs with a bit of college here and there. Some gaps...kinda worried about work verification.
Spotless criminal/driving record
Little living expenses at the moment; could go to college and work weekends to pay for gas and such
Most interested in tankers at the moment, but am open to about anything except city work and such. Like the sound of linehaul for hometime, though probably would get bored.
Would like to work toward not a home every night job, but a home every week or several days off after a couple weeks. Don't expect it at first, but would be nice. I absolutely don't wanna team drive.

Options I have found:

1. TN Technology Centers: The nearest and best TN technology center that offers truck driving, as far as I have found from their websites, is Nashville's. It's 8 weeks and about $1850. Plus the cost of driving a little under 200 miles a day to get to it. I think this may be my best option as of now. I have tried calling and emailing today, but haven't been able to get in touch. There's also one in Jackson, TN...125 miles away and seemingly less quality, but cheaper. I could afford a cheap motel by then most likely if needed.

2. Various Private institutions: Usually around $5,000, which would take too long for me to save for unless I am somehow financed or sponsored. Don't really see a way or reason to go this route.

3. Sponsored from a decent company on contract: This seems a decent route IF researched. I am considering Millis (seems great except van and east of MS river and #### dash cams...but that money), Maverick (they seem to have just got their own CDL school), Roel (good home time), Prime (tankers). There are others, but I haven't found what I believe better than these. Open to input.

4. Company training without contract: RE West will train without contract. However, I have read they only pay .32 a mile when most of the training companies above seem to pay much better. Also, ya gotta unload your own loads often from what I've read. Seems to be the only reason to go their is free, no contract training. Maybe work there 4-7 months? Maybe they are not actually that bad? Hard to get up to date info.


I am open to input on what you think is the best course of action ***cough Chinatown cough****

 

Good thing you don't need much sleep, hu?

Cool. Didn't see anything about them having a school on the site or the first page of the App, so it pays to research! Looks like my work history will probably be my biggest hurdle to getting on at a decent company, though. I have had 6 jobs in the past 3 years, with gaps in employment of several months. Guess it couldn't hurt to apply :/

Does coming from a PTDI school mean much? TN Tech in Nashville is.

 

Okay, I have been doing further investigations on individual oompanies. I have indeed found TN Tech in Nashville is full until July, but I could still work at the same time since their class ends at 2:30.

CTL seems to be a lower end tanker company from my research, though OTR seems to be the way to maybe be OK there. Still my top choice if I go company training route.

Millis seems like a really good choice aside from only being vans and driver cameras. I really like their hometime, and pay looks pretty good also. It's my second choice.

Maverick is my 3rd choice based on my limited knowledge...seems to pay very well for beginners and has a good rep. May be harder to get into, though.

Henderson (don't really wanna deal with grocers), Conway truckload, Roehl, and Prime are the rest of my reasonable options for contract based training. Then there's the RE West contract free training wildcard still.

If I think I could get on at a good tanker company or a company with really good hometime and decent pay, I would probably wait out the tech school. I don't have kids, but have a good long term relationship going, so I want at least decent hometime.

Question: Do you have to have a CDL to go ahead and get your endorsements, or can you do it on a permit? I thought I could get all my endorsements while waiting on TN Tech...I could always study, of course.


Dunno if I am being repetitive, but I am keeping everything updated as I go.