Profile For Mitch S.

I could use some advice or opinions. I turned down the chance to go to a local technical college for a CDL because while I was waiting for the semester to start I got an offer for a local desk job for $26/hr and accepted it. Now I'm sitting in a cubicle surrounded by hundreds of other cubicles, a micro manager boss and have lousy high deductible health insurance. So now I'm having second thoughts about my decision. Since it's too late to get into the tech college this year I'm thinking about finding a trucking company that will get me my CDL in return for time in service and allow me to bring my dog once training is over. Can anyone recommend a reputable company for me to approach? I realize I'll have to do OTR for a year or longer. BTW, the dog is the size of a Great Dane but is very low energy. Thanks.

I imagine similar questions have been posted for years but here it goes anyway. I'm 60 years old and lost my corporate telecom job 4 months ago and have faced nothing but rejection after rejection trying to find another job. I've had several phone interviews that all resulted in nothing and a few in-person interviews where I heard nothing or received a thanks but no thanks email. On my last interview the interviewer asked me how would I feel working with people whose average age is 25? I think that sums it up.

So as a safety net I signed up at Chattahoochee Tech College CDL program. The catch is I have an old 160 pound dog with bad legs that I've owned since he was 8 weeks old and know he's too large and fragile to travel with me and there's no one at home to take care of him. I realize making a career decision based around a dog sounds crazy to some but it's just the way I am.

Ideally a local CDL job would be a good compromise but I've been told 95% of CDL graduates need to be OTR for at least 12 months before landing a decent local job. Is it worth the gamble to spend $1600 on the CDL course and search for a local job? I was thinking a local CDL job would still pay better than trying to find work in a retail store like home depot. By the way if you're curious about the breed he's an Anatolian Shepherd. Any positive input/advice would be appreciated.

Thanks