Concrete truck to OTR am i crazy?

Here's the story. Ive been a local Ready mix driver for almost 10 years now. Ive been pretty content with the job overall. Started back in 04 in with a small company in Central IL. This company didn't pay very much but I liked the job and did about 2 years with them. On to greener pastures. Moved my self to Chicagoland in 06 to join a union Ready mix company up there. I had resevations with moving to the city, being a small town country boy but heck they were gonna pay me about 2 1/2 times the hourly rate I was earning at the time, oh and all the benifits one could possibly want. Things were going really well in the great metropolis for quite awhile. Then the "Great Recesion" hits...dun dun dunnnn. I got about a 50% pay cut due to lack of hours. OUCHY! I really liked the company but you sure have to make quite a bit to get by in that city. The summer of 2010 I had to tuck my tail between my legs and move back to Central Il. I kind of wanted to do this anyway just never really felt at home in the city. Back in Cental IL i got myself on with a local union ready-mix company and have been there ever since.

So what's the problem you may ask? It basically boils down to this, I don't drive the truck much anymore. Lots of standing(litterally no sitting here) around waiting. And many other things that I will not bore you with. This company took all the "fun" outta being a ready mix driver. I know, I know play me a sad sad song. My dad, an otr guy himself, would rub his thumb and index finger together and ask "guess what this is" yep the world's smallest violein. HAHA. Your gonna just have to trust me on this one, the job sucks in a multitude of ways.
I've been eye balling the whole otr thing now for I would say 4-5 years. Seems like something I would enjoy. I am an only child, a natural loner, and am pretty #### good at entertaining myself. Hell, my idea of fun anymore is reading a good book or listening to one of many podcast or "jammin out" listening to radio. XM anyone? You see, I currently am not even allowed to have a radio in my truck....oh yeah no boring details sorry. I have a Class A CDL with no otr experience. I obtained this by upgading from a Class B back in 08. I was looking for some winter work and decided that it would be easier if I had a Class A. I went to a truck driving school to obtain an upgrade. It was roughly 2 weeks and 40 course hours. Nothing really paned out for finding winter work but I do have the big boy CDL now (minus the hazmat). My goal is to get otr by this winter. I currently make in the 30-35k yr. range. What is the possibilty of making this the first year? I know I have to put in my time being a newb but I would say, others will probably disagree here, that Im at least a Newb+. The operations part of driving the truck I think I would be good at. Not perfect but able to get "comfortable" pretty quick. Its all the other stuff log books, trip plaining that i am clueless about. (although I have been picking up bit and pieces thanks to the handy internet). So I do need some training time. My MVR is spotless. My criminal background is spotless.
So what do you think? Bueller?...Bueller? What's a good starting point if you were in my shoes?

If anyone has any question about being in a concrete truck just ask or send them my way. That is one area of expertise that could I lend anyone a helping hand on.

Thanks everyone!

 

Thanks I will check them out. I don't have much tractor trailer experience so that's usually a sticking point with employers. I will check them out regardless thanks for the lead. As far as equipment goes anything would prob be better than some of the bucket of bolts I drive lol.

 

I have a good standing relationship with a live in girlfriend. She's on board with me. My goal is to do this to open up other oppertunity in future. Kind of pigeon holed into concrete right now.

 

China town...as in china town in Chicago by chance? If so I'm probably very familiar with the company you hauled the powder for. Thanks for the advice ive been down the no two week notice in my early days.gotta learn the hard way when your young I guess haha. Thanks again for the valuable info!