Waiting Another Year...

I had hoped having a solid foundation and something to come back to would alleviate some of the stress while training.

Ralph, we don't sugarcoat this career. There's usually considerable difficulties encountered when trying to get it started. Having something to "come back to" doesn't alleviate the stress, what it typically does is provides a good reason to avoid the Commitment needed to see this through. Having a safety net is usually not the best approach when trying to get a trucking career started. We warn people all the time that during that initial three or four months they are going to consider quitting almost on a daily basis. It can be that trying at first. Those who come into this knowing they don't really need to make it work seldom ever stick with it.

I'm not saying what you're doing won't work, but it sure has a familiarity of sure failure that I've witnessed way too many times. If it were me, and I really wanted this, I'd abandon everything and plunge in like there's no escape route. I know that sounds crazy to ya, but honestly that's the way you need to approach it. I think you seriously need to think about if your serious about it or not.

I guess there is a flip side to this, in that truck driving jobs aren't going anywhere. So, if you aren't really committed at this time, you can always wait until you feel you are.

I must have missed this back when it was posted, but my thought was the same as Old School's.

Leaving that lifeline makes it way too easy to give up and go back to your old way of life.

Money should never be your primary focus when deciding on a career. I have worked at jobs mostly for money for the last 25 years, and it has made me miserable and depressed. You have to like what you do to be happy with your job. If you HAVE to make a certain amount to survive, and trucking won't provide that amount, then now may not be the time. If trucking would make you happier than your current job, but it would be NICE to make the money your current job is offering, then my vote would be following your heart.