Looking for something new

Ok here's my situation. I have been employed in the automotive industry for over 20 years and have found myself unemployed and unable to find a job in what I have spent so long learning. I spent several years doing collision repair to the big rigs and my father even had some trucks on the road back in the 70's. As I don't really want to work the retail or restaurant jobs and do several part time jobs to get by, I have been thinking that this might be a good time to try driving, which is something that I have always wanted to try.

I have been looking at the programs offered by several different companies and based on a lot of reading here on the forum have narrowed the choices down to Central, Stevens, and Watkins Shepard. Watkins has done away with the reimbursement for the schooling and I understand that Central and Stevens put you with a driving trainer for several weeks. From my view, being out with an experience driver for the first few weeks may prove to be very valuable as it would appear that you would gain great information as opposed to 10 days training and then hitting the road on your own. I would venture to say there is a lot that goes on out there that you would not experience from 10 days in MT.

Could anyone that have gone through these programs offer any additional incite? Are there any programs out there that are better than the ones I've listed that I may be missing. I thank you all for the information you have posted here and look forward to your answers.