Trying To Attain My CDL With A WIA Grant

So originally my appointment with my WIA agent was for next Tuesday. She called me this Monday and said she had to bump it back to the following Friday. It sucks but i mean there's not much I can do. I went in to ask what exactly I would need to get everything going so I can hit the ground running. She hit me with the it can take 30 days to get everything processed... 30 FREAKING DAYS!!! The school starts on the 18th. I went to my School representative, and she told me not to fret and to stay on her if I'm very persistent the agent might push it faster. That i needed to go to every local business put in apps and get business cards. And research the field as much as possible so that I can show them (WIA agent) that Im deadly serious about this. The leg work won't be a problem, just a major push back. I could be looking at 2 months with no serious income.

I feel ya Mad Hatter! just before I decided to stop in here for a few minutes I was working on the info I need for WIA funds. I have been working on this on and off for the last week and a half and realize I need to call the office again for some clarification. However, the chunk of change I may qualify for makes it worth it and I am not even positive I will qualify! I currently work full-time but I am underemployed, however my income is going to be close. Keep your eye on the prize even though I understand how frustrating it is!

Thanks! What route are you going talk to them? I had to go to my state unemployment office.

Thanks! What route are you going talk to them? I had to go to my state unemployment office.

Me too...although in Ohio they call it Ohio Means Jobs office. Isn't THAT a crock! . I must say however, the county I live in will give a person up to $15,000 for a program that is 24 months or less. I was blown away when they said that. Most counties cap the dollar amount at 5k, but for some reason ours is substantially more. Ah well, I just need a third of what they are offering! I hope you get everything worked out before you are scheduled for school!

Holy cow!!!! Yeah ours is capped at 5. Haha I'm actually in my parents basement right now going and down looking for my birth certificate.... I haven't needed it in years.

I feel sorry for you both. Not a pity sorry. I know you both have chosen this route for one reason or another and if that is what you need then go for it.

Maybe I am just not understanding it. All that extra time waiting and a lot more money to be spent all for what? A smaller class size? Or maybe a slower learning environment? All for what? So you can go through the same exact training phases as someone how went to a company school and did not have to pay a time out of pocket? Have to go through the same company training once you get hired on so what am I missing?

If it's the slower learning environment I get that but not at the prices those private schools are asking.

Want to know something really funny or maybe not so funny once you hear it..... I used to be a trainer with a large company. I have trained new students from private schooling and from company schooling and you know what the difference in their skill level? Absolutely zero. The difference is the attitudes.

I don't want to discourage you from your paths your taking. Just wanted to toss my 2 cents in.

I want to go to TMC, they don't offer classes for a CDL A. They expect you to have it. Im calling TMC Tuesday to see about my app. If I'm denied then I'll just go apply with Prime, our somewhere else. Not that Prime doesn't deserve to be a place to strive to get into from the start. I personally just want to work for TMC, so I'm going to jump the hoops. Please don't think I don't appreciate your consideration, I'm young enough to be green and old enough to listen to a veteran. Haha

My brother actually works in Kankakee, Illinois and wants me to do the program his job offers. But I'm a little stubborn sometimes. I think it's a tanker job involving cooking oil.

I my self went through the work force program.

I was classified as under employeed.. During last winter (one of the hardest time of year to find a job in my area).. I started the program. All I got was do this .. do that.. we met the qualification then was told the funding wasn't there and I had to wait.. Then.. I had to make to required hours a week... married with 3 kids.. wife and I had to complete 55 hours a week. thats hard to do when you work retail in the winter and a snow storm hits and kids are out of school..

after all said and done.. we didnt met our hours , Rent was getting harder and harder to come by.. even with assistance, But since we couldnt physical do the 55 a week due to weather our assistance got sectioned . When people complain about welfare, we were on it and it SUCKED... Try to make rent/ utilities/water with $136 a month.. and when you dont get your 55 hours in they cut it $45..

Well it came down to the fact that our case worker didnt like my wife... so they went back 4 year and found a loan she took out of her 401K and tried to tell us we didnt claim it on our assistance and now the case worker filed suit with the state is trying to sue us for a payment.. from 2010 and we wasnt even on assistance then.

so all of this happened from Oct 13- last week in May... Finally.. I got my grant approved and did my training..

Now we are in the system as a fraud watch... until we prove that during the 2010 area where she got her loan we wasnt on any assistance. So now times are tough. but we are making.. I leave Sunday evening to start a oreintation ( for Con-Way) so hopefully in a few weeks we have a little food back in the house and have some of the bills caught back up before winter hits again. **** Daddy need a new bow for deer season!****

So best of luck to you all in the program.. it will get tough .. fight through it and MAKE IT HAPPEN!

I feel sorry for you both. Not a pity sorry. I know you both have chosen this route for one reason or another and if that is what you need then go for it.

Maybe I am just not understanding it. All that extra time waiting and a lot more money to be spent all for what? A smaller class size? Or maybe a slower learning environment? All for what? So you can go through the same exact training phases as someone how went to a company school and did not have to pay a time out of pocket? Have to go through the same company training once you get hired on so what am I missing?

If it's the slower learning environment I get that but not at the prices those private schools are asking.

Want to know something really funny or maybe not so funny once you hear it..... I used to be a trainer with a large company. I have trained new students from private schooling and from company schooling and you know what the difference in their skill level? Absolutely zero. The difference is the attitudes.

I don't want to discourage you from your paths your taking. Just wanted to toss my 2 cents in.

Guy, I am definitely looking for a slower learning environment. While I could probably make it through a company school I would hate to quit my current job and get bounced because they didn't think I was learning fast enough. I may be underemployed currently, but I am employed and still have clients I need to see through to the end of their loans closing. Going through the local technical school will give me the opportunity to be able to go in to the office in the evening if necessary to finish things up. I do admit trying to get this help is a major pain and I still may not qualify. Swift and Roehl have both let me know I am welcome to come to their company schools should I not be eligible for WIA funds, so that is good to have as a fall back plan.