Trying to make the right choice

25 plus years as a restaurant general manager. Let go last year due to recession (65K salary too much for business). Really burned out on the whole corporate driven restaurant business anyway. I have a solid career with no terminations. I've been sending out resumes for over a year now and have only gotten a few interviews. Could be qualifications, salary, or age bias (53). They never tell you. But I know I must do something new.
I've been thinking about getting into truck driving for quite some time. Reading various posts on this site and I get the idea of the job. A lot hate it and complain, a lot don't. I believe it is what you make it, some good and some bad. Either way it's attitude.
My thought was to get a job with a training company, drive for a year or two, then maybe move into a management position once I learned more about the business. I'm married with 11 year old daughter at home. I really enjoy my wife and daughter so the time away is a major concern but probably inevitable. Another is income. I would need 40K to 45K to keep things going the way they are right now. I know that is high but I think it's achievable if you really work at it. Trucking has always appealed to me. Not sure why. Maybe the independance to make some decisions. Maybe the lack of 75 employees to create havoc at any moment.
This recession has a lot of people really looking outside their boxes for things to do. It will end and when it does there will be a lot of opportunities in the trucking business as the economy rebuilds. I really want to be positioned to take advantage of that.
My question is what were some of the thoughts you had when you got into trucking? Were your expectations met? Regrets? Victories?
I respect this site for the willingness of people to offer up their opinions and the genuine desire to help. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

I apprieciate the feedback. Good or bad. I will keep reading and learning, following differant threads. I'll tell you one thing for sure is I can't believe Driving is considered a "unskilled position". I have been nothing but impressed by the stories and advice I read here. Thank you all.