Weekend only jobs for a beginner

hi, so i've been meaning to dive into trucking for a while but i'm not ready to just give up my day job. Currently my wife and I are making our ends meets, but we don't have much of savings and with 2 kids (5 and 1 yr old) its not easy.

I wanted to know if weekend only trucking jobs are available for a new drivers? I'm in the central texas area, so San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Houston are 2-3 hours away from me. I have no problems driving to either of these cities during the weekend. Would these be LTL jobs? Do they hire new drivers? Would i get the most money for my time making runs to these cities or doing only local driving within the Austin area? Which would be the best to get my foot in the door?

This will also give me some experience to know if I want to do this full time which is my eventual goal, to become O/O within 2-3 years after some much needed experience, then hopefully get into tankers with a local company. These are the general outline of my plan so far, but one step at a time.

I've been browsing these forms and they are truly a gold mine of insight, so thank you everyone who contributes!!

 

thanks for your feedback, would you have any ideas what the going pay is for new drivers on the low and high end just so my expectations are balanced.

 

I was actually wanting to keep the current job until i got a good feel to move full time, hopefully within 6 months or so doing only weekends.

ahhhh, So even if those 40 hours are sitting in a office, they would still be counted for the trucking job? What if that job is working the docks, moving trailers/trucks around?

To fully understand this, that would mean, my first week on the job, i'd be ok doing my 11 hours of on the road for Sat and 11 for Sunday, but come next Sat and Sunday, i wouldn't be able to work because i'd be over my 70. so essentially i can only work every other weekend..legally.

Edit: What about the recap? once i'm over 70, do I not get a recap of the 7th day back (Saturday), so another 11 hours of driving is available on my 70 hours? I hope i'm understanding this right?

thanks for bringing this up..it didn't even occur to me.

EDIT 2: Still trying to wrap my head around this:

Mon - Fri = 40
Sat = 14
Sun = 14
[Total so far 68]
(I would then have to head to my regular work on Monday)
Monday = 8 -- (i'm already over 70 by simply going to work here) So what happens now legally, am I in violation on my CDL meaning DOT can issue a ticket even if i'm in my normal vehicle or only if/when i drive the truck?

Does this mean i can reset my 70 on the weekend by not driving the truck? or i can't because of the violation?