well first off there is no shortage of drivers. there are alot. only shortage that exist is Smart drivers and Professionals.

If you decide to get into it you will want the haz-mat license. its a must have for any carrier that is competitive. and makes it easier for you to switch to a better job when you get a chance.

Basically' you have a CDL with 0 experience. nothing a big company cant handle as most like Schneider and Us xpress have there own schools.

Im leaving Swift out as after 18 years of driving i put them in another class of trucking company's ie friggen dangerous !

OTR company's like Schneider and USX drivers normally start out with a trainer for 3-4 weeks. this may have changed but i was a trainer for USX in 95-99 so i know a little about them, but its been a few years

Women in Trucking Association

Lady Truck Drivers - Women in Trucking

both of these website are well known and probably have alot of useful info a women can use.

i started driving OTR in 1990 and haven't ever stopped. I've worked for
Monfort Trucking 1990 -1991
Southwest Motor freight 1991-1996
Harold Ives TRucking : 3 months in 1996 .23 cents per mile.. wtf was i thinking
US Xpress :1996 - 1998
Roadway Express 1999 - whenever i retire... hopefully

OTR driving is alot of fun if you keep a good outlook, alot of drivers have negative attitudes and are generally just whiny and mouthy little twerps

just remember to always to be safe and pay attention to what you are doing.