Looking for advice for career change

I will try to make this brief. I've been a hair stylist for 15 years, I'm the mother to two small boys (6 & 3) who I've never been away from over night. Due to various reasons and being burned out on doing hair, I've considered getting my CDL. Fortunately my husband is very supportive. I realize that the 1st year will be the hardest, and we are willing to make sacrifices so that I can get experience under my belt and hopefully get home to a more local job asap.
I live right near the Maine/Canadian border. There are quite a few truck driving jobs- but of course all require experience. I'd just as soon get my CDL directly though a company rather than incur debt at the local college. My brain hurts from thinking and analyzing. So I'd truly appreciate the advice of you all.
Any companies recommended? Border crossing...good or bad? I assume men and women are treated equally? yada yada...
Thanks in advance.

(I realized I posted in the wrong area...so I copy and pasted...sorry for double entry)

 

STAY HOME! Your kids need a Mother.

P.S.- That is NOT a sexist remark...a 6 and 3 year old need their Mother more than anyone else on the planet. Do not screw their little minds up.

 

I know, that is my only hang up. I was fortunate enough to stay home with them for a few years, and my husband was thinking of staying with them full time while I went out. That is the only way I'll do it. If I do move forward, it will only be if my husband is with them full time. Otherwise it would be a deal breaker. By him leaving his job we can pay off our house. We'd only have utilities.

 

Border crossing was generally a pain in the *** when I did OTR from 2007-2009 maybe it's changed since then but going across the border was not something anyone looked forward to do to waiting for PAPS and PARS to clear customs and all that jazz. It took several hours each time I went across the border. I know they have some kind of program which helps you get across the border faster but other than knowing it exists I don't know much else.

As far as getting your cdl through a company goes I got mine through Schneider when they use to run there training schools. Being honest the training schools owned by companies tend to be worse then going through a driving program at a community college. The company will get you your cdl by training you and all but it's not free. They deduct that money from your paycheck until you paid off whatever expense the schooling was...usually it's deducted in small amounts over 2 years at least that's how it was with Schneider. If you quit before that you will owe them the money still.

Besides the CB you shouldn't encounter sexism. There aren't many female truck drivers out there as there are male but female truck drivers are not unheard of so why it's a male dominated job it's not a hostile environment for women.

 

Check out Averitt. They train, and have a lot of local junk so maybe you can get your time in and still get home every day.

Id consider moving too LOL sorry youre in the middle of no where

 

LOL That is why we love it!! Truly the middle of nowhere!

 

Do not go into trucking if you have young children. And your husband is OK with you working, and him staying home?

If you really cannot stand what you are now doing for a living, find something else to change to, maybe something in the healthcare industry?

Truck driving is not only poison to family, your income is variable, not to be counted on.

You seem like someone with a couple of brain cells still functioning, don't go into trucking!

 

Might get a job driving milk tankers up there; will see lots of dairy farms in the wee hours.

 

You missed a detail I'm curious on. How can you pay your house off by your husband leaving his Job? Other than maybe cashing out his retirement which I know some people do when they leave a job. That statement puzzled me.
If I left my job right now I couldn't pay my house off because of it. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

 

He is a federal employee and has two retirements. So yes, he'd cash out one. The beauty of being up here, we bought an old farmhouse on an acre for peanuts.

He is not overly crazy about staying home, but he does love the idea of being with the boys for a change. He has been the best provider we could ask for, allowing me to stay home for a few years. It's a nice opportunity for me to possibly return the favor for a brief time.

You all have given me much to think about which is obviously why I posted. I thank you all for your time and opinions!