Since it's been a few months since I posted, I thought I'd come back to give an update and look for some more guidance. I came home just in time for the G20 conference and got into a private security job for that which I was expecting to roll into a full time position, but that flopped.
So, I checked with a good college here that has, in my opinion, has an unparalleled veteran's program. The catch is that the degree program that I want, they only have as a minor, but are in the process of expanding into a major. I could cross my fingers and hope that I can transfer to it before I get too deep involved in my alternative major.
I found that I may have a chance to use retraining funds to pay for a local CDL course. The program is 160 hours with road time. So, I'm going to try to see if I can manage to do that along with doing general college courses in the spring semester. I have a friend who has driven for a cement company for 14 years, and they're starting drivers at $10.95/hour, plus benefits, and he averages 50 - 60 hours/week in the winter. So I can use that as a fall back.
I still would like to drive OTR, though. I'm looking for input as to the chances I might have to get with an OTR company temporarily, like over the summer, possibly longer until the college gets my major together. Like I said, I would be getting my CDL through gov't funds, so I wouldn't have to be worried about repaying the training. Any advice?