European has some questions about the truck driver job in the US

Hello everyone!
I'm new here and have some questions about the job as professional truck driver (especially heavy haulage).
But first: Please excuse me if my English is too bad. It's not my native language

I have no clue how it works in America to become a professional truck driver. I live in Germany and I guess the process of becoming a professional trucker here is very different than in the US. You need to pass a 3 year apprenticeship to be a qualified driver. Within the 3 years you'll get the driving license and learn everything that's important like laws, securing of loads, efficient driving, permissions, paperwork and much more. After 3 years you have to pass an exam (written and practical). Then you are a professional driver and you can work in every company.
And there's a couple of licenses you can get additional. Like if you wanna drive heavy haulage, then you can pass an extra training course to get skills, you can also get a license to drive escort vehicles behind the heavy truck to secure the traffic. And theres much more you can do to get more skills.

Now my question is, how do you become a professional trucker in the US? Do you just make your drivers license and then apply for a job? Or do you also need a special apprenticeship? And how does it work with the heavy haulage? You need a special training for that? Or do you just apply for a job and you'll learn everything within your company? And how long does it take from getting the driving license until driving heavy haulage?

The reason why I ask: I don't have a special apprenticeship as a professional trucker in Germany. I only have the truck driving license and an apprenticeship in another job (which has not much to do with professional driving). And now I have the opportunity to move to the US (I have a work and residence permit). So I have to consider: Do I just move there, get the American truck license and apply for a job - or wait for three years while I pass the German apprenticeship and become a professional trucker here. I think it's kinda useless to pass a three-year apprenticeship when American companies don't care about that. I'm 20 right now and I don't wanna waste 3 years for nothing. Life's short enough

So you see - theres a lot of things I wanna know. I'm really interested in heavy haulage. So please explain everything you know
And please understand that I don't know too much about the American education system, so don't laugh about me if I ask stupid questions

I'd be really glad to get some advice here. And thanks in advance!

 

Thanks for your answer!
Do you have an example link to such a school so I can get a quick overview? Doesn't matter in which state it is, I just wanna have a look at it.

 

Who do you mean? Me?

 

No, I have a Green card, so I can live and work wherever I want