I think I saw a thread yesterday where Youngblood said he was a truck driver.
Whereas I drive large trucks (mainly 26' trailers, and up to 48'), I'm not a full time trucker; I don't do long-hauls. I'd go to my job, pick up my rig and go out making deliveries for the day and return home every night.
There are certainly good things to get a Class A license; people are ALWAYS looking for truck drivers. Even when jobs are hard to find, do a Google search for "Class A license jobs wanted" or similar and the pages will be filled with want ads. JB Hunt, CR England, FedEx, UPS, Estes Trucking....the names rattle on and on, because you always need to truck stuff coast to coast.
Is it worth it? Depends. I know guys (at times I'm one of them) that don't drive at all anymore. You're on the road so much that you're just tired of seeing idiots driving. Nobody respects trucks, and they're the FIRST people on the road you should respect. That's a whole thread in itself!
How long for a permit depends; how fast of a learner are you? Do you have access to a truck? I did, and my Class A was absolutely free. Matter of fact, I was paid to get mine! But truck driving school is expensive as you have to rent the truck, gas, drive time, take the tests...but they get you everything you need. I can drive a single trailer, but I never had to study for HazMats, doubles/triples, or anything out side of that. I needed a refresher course on hooking up the trailers when you drop & hook, but there that's all small beans.
Pay rates vary. I've seen various rates from $15/hr, .37/mile and some it depends on experience/accident records. If you get your HazMats & Doubles/triples endorsements, you can drive for a Gas company. BIG money...last I heard a reference, they'll start at $35/hr...but you do drive from like 6pm to 5am, are driving long distances with highly explosive liquid (thousands of gallons worth), and you'll have to keep in mind that the gas jockeys are referred to as "suicide jockeys" for a reason....