Life and the Long Road in TN. (long post warning. lol!)

Greetings all. I'm Jay. I'm a talker, so this might be long. haha! And I've got a pretty tough row to hoe right now, so it might be a bit more personal than most. I'm not usually one to spill everything to strangers, but I've hit a wall and need some insight to go further. And maybe somebody else in a similar situation might come across it and find it helpful...

So, I've been cruising around your forums here for the better part of a week. Searching, researching, reading opinions and experiences. I'll try and give a little intro and insight to myself, and only ask questions that I can't find an answer to otherwise. I'll explain the situation and offer my questions as I go along...

So...31 w/ an Assoc. Degree in Prod. Technology. I've been touring, working for bands, TV shows, and films out of Nashville, TN since before I graduated high school. I'm "in the music business" and it's all I've ever really known, professionally. (but it's Nashville. I'm from here so that's like saying you work in the local small-town factory. haha.)
But having toured fairly extensively, I'm used to being gone from home for extended periods.
But as much as I've been on the road, someone else has almost always done the driving.

But, I find myself in a need to broaden my skills and find more steady work. A CDL feels like the best way to do that. A CDL would help me find more tours. And if I couldn't find a tour, I could get a regional gig. I've actually missed out on some REALLY good jobs only because I didn't have a CDL.
And I know quite a few trucking and logistics companies are based or have hubs in the Nashville area not to mention all the touring production companies.
But what about schools? I don't want to go the CDL-mill route and I don't know of the trucking schools locally. When I search, it just gives me a CDL-mill sites.

But, it's time to pony up and do it while I can. And I kinda NEED to. I've already lost nearly everything to my mother having lung and brain cancer. I had to quit my nice, cushy casino job, sold my house and all my toys, moved back to TN to take care of her last year. Not to mention that my fiance has stated that she now plans on attending college out of state and possibly joining the Navy.

But, I've covered nearly all expenses with what I'd saved and what little insurance/disability mom has. But, other than her SS and temporary disability check, I'm her sole provider. But, basically unless she dies within the next year, there's a good chance we'll be homeless once her disability runs out in 2010. For a while, I COULDN'T work as I had to take care of her. So that hurt my profits and business relations pretty bad. The phone is ringing less and less...and less and even less these days. Only so much I can turn down work and have them keep calling. My aunt, her sister has moved in to help take care of her, so now I'm back free to get stuff moving again. And I've gotta make something positive happen...like, yesterday. Going back to production would only get me freelance/sub-contracting type work that is sparse and unreliable.
So in a nutshell, my fiance is going off to do her thing and probably will end up NOT my fiance before long. And I have nothing tying me here, family wise, except my Aunt and sick Mother. As long as they're taken care of, I can do whatever I need to do. My son and ex-wife also live in the Portland, OR area, so any long hauls out that way would only give me an opportunity I didn't have to see my son. And I have nothing. No real bills, no car, a few relatively small debts from school loans and back taxes. The only real bills I have are my mothers. I myself have basically nothing now.
All I really have left is my clothes, a couple guitars, my computer equipment, and a home theater system that I couldn't sell before.

So, since I know the big music touring companies pretty well, I'm thinking that would be my best route in the long run. But I gotta get that 1st year or two experience first. So, I'm guessing small logistics company? No chance at regional or dedicated for a Rook? With my mom being sick, I'd like to stay in or as near the Southeast as much as possible. It's only a matter of time before something happens, and I want the smallest chance of me being stuck on the other side of the country as possible when that time comes. But that might be a year, might be 10 years...no way to know. But sitting here watching her waste away (and not being able to really work other than low pay/low hour type jobs) is killing me more or just as much as it would sitting in a truck and making money. So that's an issue for myself (and a future therapist. lol) to deal with. and like I said earlier, I need to make something positive happen now.

But what companies go where? I realize they all go everywhere, duh. But what companies' focus more on the south? (Or SW, midwest?) A nice dedicated run into Gulfport, MS, New Orleans, or Houston and back would be ideal.

Now, I've read all about the low rates, low mileages, long hours, etc, etc, etc.....but when you're at the bottom already, there's no place to go but up. And .32/mile over 2000-2500 miles sounds a LOT more appealing to me than $9-$12/hr working some miserable retail or shop job...especially to someone who's used to being on the road a lot already. Sure, being home every night sounds great...but when there's not much to come home to, more options kinda seem to open up.
I could go get a "regular" job for say $12/hr(if I'm lucky) to start, with 40 hours=$480/week =$24960/year(gross)...and these jobs rarely offer overtime opportunities these days...but I'm home
OR
Avg. 2000 mi/week (about the avg. drivers on these forums are getting based on just reading through. Some have more, some less.) # .32/mi (avg starting rate)= $9/hour based on the 70 hours...= $640/week. Figuring the year with 40 weeks, allowing for 12 weeks of home time..=$25,600..more if I wanna keep rolling. Not including any sitting pay, per diems, unload pay, etc, etc...and I'm only home say 4 days/month..which is equal to a 6 day work week anyway.
Hell, I'd go back to college, but I just can't afford it and it don't exactly pay the bills does it? But I COULD scratch together enough to get CDL training. But I could afford it if I was driving and I could do the rest of a degree online in my downtime.

Well that's it. Opinions? Advice? I'm just trying to formulate a game plan. I suppose the gist of my questions are this:
-Which CDL school or college for someone in Middle Tennessee? (I know of the big foul-up of a local school that has affected a lot of drivers in the area)
-Any info on companies have a higher concentration of their runs in the South? Any info on dedicated runs in S. Mississippi/Louisiana area?
-How are your mileage averages these days? Is my average very far off? You getting less or more miles compared to 3-6 months ago?
-chance at regional or dedicated for a Rook?
-Any other points I haven't considered?
-I know the first year might be hell. What's the outlook after your first year?

There's lots more I could add, but lets see what kind of answers we get first...
Thanks in advance. I appreciate your insights. Again, sorry it was so long and personal. But I've been seriously thinking about hitting the road again lately, only this time as a driver, and this seems about the best place to get an honest opinion.

 

Hey, thanks for the reply.

I just discovered the TN Tech course a couple days ago. That's definitely the way I'd like to go. Just don't have the spare $1400 at the moment, and since I already have outstanding school loans, I can't get financial aid.
I'm gonna go this week and check into the WIA program. Don't know if I'll qualify, but it's worth a go.

I imagine hauling produce is pretty steady. But, I'd still rather stay primarily in the SE if at all possible. No loads to Oregon isn't a bother. If I'm working steadily, I could afford a plane ticket in my off time.

Funny thing though...since posting this, I've been offered 2 local driving jobs for when(if) I get my CDL. One for Coca-Cola and another for a local concrete firm. Either of those would be ideal.

But, I've been on the road a LOT. I've probably got more miles on my butt than a lot of these "vets"...just not in the drivers seat. haha!
And yes, I've slung a LOT of Mesa's in the past 10 years. I was guitar tech for Steppenwolf for a stint. Don't worry about the Les Paul...it's a family heirloom and will be passed down to my son. I've sold any and everything to take care of my mom...but there's a couple things I'll hold on to at all costs. My LP Custom is one of them

And working on Porsches eh? You work at Thoroughbred? Sounds like you guys could use a parts b***h. hahahaha!

But, regardless of whether I officially go into trucking or not, I'd still like to get my CDL as it could only open doors in the future.

Thanks again for the reply. If you ever get a free day, I'm in Franklin, we should go have a beer! I'll trade ya some stories about the Porsche mechanic business for some roadie stories.

...and thanks to everyone who at least read my big wall of text. Even if ya didn't reply.