From the nursing field to the open road! woo hooo!

I have a lot of questions about trucking. I do not have exp in the field unless you count making a couple of runs w/ your big brother whose been trucking for 15 years. I have, however, been wanting to do this for a very long time. The first time I checked out a career in trucking I was 21. Twelve days before starting school, I found out I was pregnant w/ my daughter so the deal was pretty much nixxed and I was looking for something a little less exciting and more homebound. Well, she is grown and off to college this year. Now my time is for me as well as for her. But more for ME!
As of now, I have been contacted by USA Truck and I am under the check stage prerequisite of going to their school and driving for them for a year. After all the apps I have put in all over the country, they are the only ones to contact me. I do not want to spend $3k-$6k on a school to teach me how to drive. Is there any good companies out there that are hiring / training newbies like me? And if you know anything about USA Truck, please let me know what you think.
I would also like to find out if I get my permit out of Kanas, can anyone train me for my CDL? Does it have to be a school or can my brother train me? Or anyone w/ a CDL, for that matter?
Thanks a ton for all your help!

 

Thanks guys! Will do that and let you know the outcome. Crossing fingers and eyes!

 

Ray and BBQ,
I have looked in the community colleges here and they are ok but at this point, I am so ready I could scream! Maybe I should have a little more patience w/ all of this. I am just in the beginnings of this so if nothing else seems to work out, I will for sure consider a school. I also am aware of the payback if I quit a company w/in the first year of two. I am hoping nothing comes up to were I would have to quit for no uncertain reasons. That would suck!
I do have another question: Are truckers (especially a woman) allowed to carry some sort of weapon to protect themselves? Even mace or a stun gun would be good. Or maybe a personal alarm? Ever hear of anyone doing that? Thanks!

 

Yeah, I gathered that about my brother training me. I wasn't sure though. Who is Central Ref?