Comments By Justin D.

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  • Justin D.
  • Joined:
  • 8 years, 9 months ago
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Posted:  8 years, 7 months ago

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Getting a WIOA Grant to Pay for CDL Schooling (Arizona- Maricopa County)

I couldn't find much information about the process of getting a WIOA grant when I started pursing one, so I thought I'd share my experience for the next person looking into it.

First of all If you don't know what WOIA is, there's an article here: http://www2.ed.gov that'll explain what it is and why you may want it. Basically if you meet certain qualifications the government will give you a grant to pay for CDL training. The following info is accurate for how the process works for the 4,000,000+ in Maricopa County Arizona as of early 2016. As I understand it the process for distributing WIOA funds is largely up to the States and further delegated to the counties or local municipalities (your mileage may vary in other locals).

The journey begins at Arizona@Work. It's the unemployment and job training facility. They can help you find work or testing for certification in certain areas (Typing, GED testing, etc), and they are the gate keepers for the WOIA in Maricopa county. They have two locations one in the west valley at 1840 N 95th Ave. and one in the east valley at 735 N Gilbert Road.

Step one is to call or vist them in person and sign up for 'Orientation'. They'll offer several Orientation times during the week, and It's the first step to getting help from them with any of the services they offer including the WIOA grant. Orientation will take an hour: They'll give you a folder with some paperwork in it (including the initial application for the WIOA grant, and a list of accompanying documentation they want with it), and will wrap up with a short career personality test.

Step two will be to fill out that application and gather the supporting documentation they want (which will include the results from that career personality test you took during Orientation). The application is pretty basic and will include much of the same info asked for on an employment application, including work history. The supporting documentation is pretty easily obtain stuff: Copy of Drivers License, Social Security Card, High School Diploma or GED Copy, Proof that your registered for selective service (if you're male), etc.

Step three will be to sign up for 'Group Enrollment'. They seem to offer these twice a week. All you're doing is handing in the application and paperwork mentioned above (why you need an appointment for this is beyond me). You'll sit across from someone at their desk while they make sure all the paperwork is there.

Step four. You will be required to attend a two hour resume writing class. Again, it is beyond me why you need to do this if you're planing on going into a field that (to my knowledge) doesn't require employment applicants to have a resume. However, it is required that you attend one of their resume writing classes.

Step five. You can now arrange a time with your appointed 'Career Guidance Specialist', for your 'intake appointment'. You'll be given a packet of paperwork (why you need an appointment for this? Search me).

Step six, fill out the paperwork. This might take a while, they'll be asking for a lot more this time. You'll need to write a 'Letter of Justification' explaining why you believe you deserve the grant. You'll need a 39 month MVR (You can print this out online for $3 from ADOT, and it'll save you time of going to the MVD). There will be a page of short answer questions. You'll need to fill out a financial worksheet of expected income and expenses proving you can provide for yourself while in school. They'll want a print out of five local ads for employment showing that if you had the qualification (CDL) you would meet the qualifications for employment. They will want you to visit the three local private schools (American Institute of Trucking, Phoenix Truck Driving Institute, Southwest Truck Driver Training), interview someone from admissions (their signature required), and fill out a questionnaire (the person you meet with from each of the schools will be all too familiar with this questionnaire) about each of the programs. You'll need a training proposal letter for you written be an official at the school you select as well.

Step seven: arrange an appointment with your Career Guidance Specialist to turn all of the paperwork back in.

Step eight. Approval process can take from the end of the day up to five business days. After which the will email you and the school of your choosing an approval letter and a voucher for the cost of the program (not to exceed $4,000)(coincidentally all tuition and fees just happen to come to just under $4,000 at each of the schools).

That's it. The entire process took me four weeks. Although I'm told it often takes up to six, so be prepared to be waiting to start school for a little while if you go this route.

Posted:  8 years, 7 months ago

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Any experiences with Pride Transport?

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Also waiting to hear more about Pride from you Barry. I'm two weeks from start of school, about six weeks from looking to hire on, and am liking a lot of what I am hearing about Pride. When you get the time, please let us know how things are going Barry.

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Justin -

I just moved to UT last week from San Diego. I stopped over at Pride and met with the recruiter I've been in contact with for the last couple months. This is my 1st choice company, their equip. is in great shape and the staff seem to be "down to earth." They have also pre-approved my staffie-mix.

I also met with a driver, from another forum, who has been with the company for 7 months. He gave me the low-down on his experiences with Pride and though he has had some minor things to deal with (as with any employer) he is satisfied (other than the mileage pay). But for someone like me who will just be coming in the pay will work for me.

What skewl do you intend on attending and where?

~scott

I'll be starting at Southwest Truck Driver Training ( http://www.swtdt.com ) on April 11th, at the Phoenix, AZ campus.

Posted:  8 years, 7 months ago

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Any experiences with Pride Transport?

Also waiting to hear more about Pride from you Barry. I'm two weeks from start of school, about six weeks from looking to hire on, and am liking a lot of what I am hearing about Pride. When you get the time, please let us know how things are going Barry.

Posted:  8 years, 7 months ago

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Walmart/Amazon Style Store For OTR Drivers?

Is there such a place (a be-all and end-all store for truckers)?

I admit I like my gadgets and toys. But I'm not the type of person that buys on impulse, or goes to the nearest store and buys something just because the sells person recommends it. I like to compare specs, read reviews and deiced best fits my needs for my budget. So what if you think my combination tire gauge/flashlight/toothbrush, is a waste of money. I might think your duffel bag that doubles as a flotation device isn't very practical on a tuck, even if you keep having a dream about a collapsing bridge.

Where do you go if your looking to compare CB's, Coolers, etc to make a purchasing decision?

Posted:  8 years, 8 months ago

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First conversation with a recruiter(Roehl), not what I anticipated

December 2052! Holy cow. In Indiana ours are valid for 6 years and expire on our birthday regardless of the issue dates.

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Posted:  8 years, 8 months ago

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First conversation with a recruiter(Roehl), not what I anticipated

Graduated license means young inexperienced driver. I am not surprised at all that they would want you to get a full regular license before driving a truck, that is the way a lot of companies are going to see it.

No. It means I haven't had the need to return to the DMV. I've had this license for 12 years. All they had to do is pull my records.

"The holder of a graduated license is not required to obtain an operator license at age 18, but may choose to obtain one." -ADOT (AZ Department of Transportation)

My current license is subject to no additional restrictions than a non graduated one at this point. And is perfectly legal until it expires in December of 2052.

Posted:  8 years, 8 months ago

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First conversation with a recruiter(Roehl), not what I anticipated

When I spoke with my Roehl recruiter a couple of weeks ago she was very kind. I had already been pre-hired and she asked all the standard questions, driving record, criminal record, etc. and answered all my questions. She also offered to send me info on their various policies (rider and pet in my case). She did email me these, but when I opened the links they were the exact same info as on the website! I wanted more detailed info not what I had already read over. Didn't make much sense to me.

Long story short, I decided against Roehl even though they were my number one pick up until then. And it was just one policy that turned me away. They require a new driver to solo for 6 MONTHS before they are allowed to have a rider. As a woman I am comfortable with my thick skin, having worked in the automotive industry for years and dealt with the prejudice. But being alone in strange parts of the country? Not so comfortable with that. I decided to go with another company that would allow me to take my husband along as soon as I solo out.

Saying that, I LOVE the fact that I received a WIA grant to pay for my schooling, which is allowing me to pick the company that is going to work best for ME.

ChickieMonster, it looks like we have very similar circumstances. I too was interested in Roehl for their Rider and Pet Policy. If the recruiter had been a little more liberal with information and told me 6 months solo was a requirement in order to have a rider, I too would've been able to cross them off my list. 6 months without my wife as a rider is not an option I am prepared to consider at this juncture. If I may ask, what other companies have you considered? And which did you go with?

Posted:  8 years, 8 months ago

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First conversation with a recruiter(Roehl), not what I anticipated

Yes, I had read Brett's article. I underestimated how Obtuse a recruiter could be. Upon looking through the article again, Brett called it. It is however hard not to hold it against the company, as I can't get more information about the company.

Posted:  8 years, 8 months ago

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Backing Practice 01

Justin has a different sense of reality:

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You sweet talk dispatch into not doing this to you again.

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Then just grab a hand cart and work on a dock instead. This particular "backing problem" is not uncommon. There's worse.

True. Thankfully I never tire of having my reality disillusioned and having to adapt to real reality. Really, lol.

Posted:  8 years, 8 months ago

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Backing Practice 01

You sweet talk dispatch into not doing this to you again.

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