Laid off from IT looking into CDL

So, as of 5/29 I just got laid off from my IT support job. It's the third time in my 20 yr career I've been laid off b/c my groups work was moved to another country ( "off-shored" ). I'm thoroughly sick of corporate IT and have no intentions of ever going back! When I started looking for new career opportunities I noticed there was a ton of truck driving jobs open in my area - Houston, TX.

I've been interested in truck diving since I was kid and I'm thinking now is a good time to make a switch. I've talked it over w/ my wife and started doing the research but like any noob/rookie I have some questions. Looking at truck driver training in my area I've decided to attend the driver training program at Houston Community College: Truck Driving | Houston Community College - HCC
This program is a total of 286 hrs and I'll be taking the evening option which is M-F / 5:30p - 10:30p for 12 weeks. My wife and I went over to the school a couple of weekends ago and talked at length to the head instructor and came away w/ a good feeling about the school. According to the instructor they have a 98% placement rate and most students are provisionally hired before completing the program. Fortunately I can afford to pay for school out of pocket but I'll probably also look into getting a grant from Texas Workforce Commission for retraining if possible.
- I'd like to hear from anyone who's familiar w/ or has been through this particular program at HCC?

As far as employers go I've been research some of the companies that hire rookies in the Houston area. So far I'm heavily leaning toward Schneider. The reasons being:
1. Schneider has a terminal about 40 mins from my house and they are currently showing 11 open positions for the Houston area, most of which require a minimum of experience.
2. Training - From what I've been reading Schneider has some of the best rookie friendly training in the industry.
3. Descent starting pay - From I've read so far rookies w/ Schneider that go OTR can realistically expect to make about $500/wk take home. This is about right in line w/ what I was making at my crappy IT job that just evaporated.
4. Opportunity to get experience in different areas - From everything I've read it seem like getting the first two years of experience is the key to making better money. My plan is to do OTR dry van for the first year while also working on getting my three endorsements - Hazmat / Tanker / Tandems. After the first year I'd like to switch to regional tanker or maybe intermodal. Hopefully something that would afford me weekly home time.
5. Equipment - Schneider seems to have a pretty good rep for newer equipment, most of their tractors being 2-3 years old. Though I understand as a rookie driver I probably won't get a brand new truck, something "newer" and in good condition would be one less thing to worry about as a rookie driver. I understand most of their new trucks have APUs and refrigerators so those would be nice conveniences but as a rookie I wouldn't be counting on that either so it's not I deal breaker if I don't get a truck w/ that stuff right off the jump.

- I'd like to hear from anyone who's trained w/ Schneider in Houston or is familiar w/ that terminal and operations? What's it really like working out of this area? Is there an opportunity to get descent miles and still get good home time? I've read that Schneider's typical system is 12 days out / 2 days home then 11 days out / 3 days home. That seems like a pretty descent schedule if it really happens, but does it really happen? Also I'm curious about a specific thing about the training - It's my understanding that Schneider puts you up in hotel for the duration of the initial training, typically w/ a roommate but you pay extra for a room by yourself if you want. What I'm wondering is, since I live relatively close would they let me go home each night instead?

Thanks for reading and responding to these noob questions. This is a great forum where I've already learned a lot and I'm looking to learn more! I'm really looking forward to starting down the CDL career path!!!

 

Thanks for the response!
I totally get that home time is kind of a "luck of the draw" sorta thing. Hey, you and the truck go where the freight and the company goes. That's the nature of the gig.

I've talked w/ my wife about trucking being a lifestyle extensively and she says she okay w/ it as long as after the first two years I honestly start looking for something more regional / local that would get me home more frequently. We don't have any kids so it would just be her and the dog I'd be missing but even still I don't want to stay out for months at a time though I understand that could happen especially for a rookie.

 

Thanks Chinatown! I've seen a lot of posts by you trying to help people out and I really appreciate that as noob trying to learn.
I guess my question here is it realistic to think a rookie could earn $65k in the first year or two? I've heard realistic expectations are closer to $50k which I'm okay w/ given that's about what I was making at my last job?
Also I'd gotten the impression that it's recommended new drivers should start w/ dry-van and not try to tackle tankers right off the bat? Is there much difference or do rookies actually do okay w/ tankers?

Thanks again for the response!