Trucking industry starving for drivers

There is a tax credit for hiring veterans who are long term unemployed. But people are making it sound like the program applies to everyone.

 

at one time, as i recall...a person got "into" trucking by going to a company, that offered company training.

the gov'ment, paid the cost, to the trucking companies.

whether the student stayed or got kicked out, the companies reaped the monies. all the had to say was..."well student xyz, just did not pass the testing, or whatever".......

then a whole new batch of students would be there, in the classroom, usually at 2 week intervals.

companies like Schneider, JB Hunt, Munson, and a few other long haul (OTR) companies were in on this gravy train

now a days, i think under a different program, that WIA(??), does nearly the same thing, only if i recall, they pay the student x number of dollars to go to a CDL school?

but when i worked as a CDL instructor, if the student missed x number of days? he lost his WIA program. it was a way to get people off the unemployment rolls.

and as it was, the unemployed STILL got the unemployment checks, until he got another job.

we musta had like a half dozen at the school, at any given time....

and many of those, had been to "other schools" to learn whatever...all so they can stay on unemployment..>!!!!


they found a way to keep themselves unemployed and collecting......


lazy SOB's.........

 

Not only on the "NEWS," but on "Al Gore's Amazing Internet!" (peace be upon him.... LMAO)

 

My school had a 99% graduation rate. Not possible to work that scam there I guess.

 

Found an article listing a few other groups which companies get a tax credit for hiring from. But as with the veterans program, it's not unique to trucking.

How to Help the Unemployed AND Get a Tax Credit!

 

one school i worked at, there was no federal financial aid, as the school did not qualify, so the student had to make weekly payments. the pass rate there was very high as well, cuz they had to pay for it.

at another school i worked at, they had federal financial aid, if a person qualified, and not all did.

the pass rate there..??

well, there was this one time, i was at the North Dartmouth CDL test site.

there were 4 students to be tested.

one in particular..??

that was his 14th time.....yes....#14........

 

1) People as this, (described above), really need to be turned over to the district attorney and indicted for outright fraud.
2) This is an absolute slap in the face of someone who really wants to go to school, learn what needs to be learned from the school, get good instruction from a driver trainer after finishing school, and then get their own truck to earn a living with, actually collecting a legitimate paycheck.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

The absolute sheer driving force of our national economy - without truck drivers, our entire national economy would come to an absolute standstill - if not outright be dead.

Over the mountains, through the woods, into the valleys, coast to coast, from sea to shining sea - truck drivers can and do go anywhere and everywhere, every day, every night, all year round.

 

i agree 1000%...

i actually liked teaching, always did, even from back in my wrench turning days

but when you can see blatant abuse of the monies, and you know they are just there so unemployment stays off thier backs, frankly, it was not in me, to teach those particular students. but i had to do my job....and i quit later on, went back to a real trucking job again...then retired.

 

MONEY
How to Help the Unemployed AND Get a Tax Credit!

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit benefits employers who hire disadvantaged workers. If you're an entrepreneur, you can do more than just feel sorry for those who are less fortunate.

BY JOHN HEWITT@JOHNTHEWITT


Getty Images

In my 47 years in the tax industry, I've survived the worst of times and created 3 businesses, employing thousands of people.

To date, my unofficial count of millionaires-created stands at 800.

That's why headlines like this one keep me up at night: Census figures show more than one-third of Americans receiving welfare benefits. In fact, newly released Census data shows nearly 110 million Americans are receiving government assistance of some kind.

If you're an entrepreneur, know that you can do more than just feel sorry for those who are less fortunate. You can put them to work AND receive a tax credit.

Yes, credit, not just a deduction, meaning a dollar-for-dollar benefit on your taxes.

Let me introduce you to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). This is a federal tax credit available for hiring individuals from certain target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. That includes our nation's veterans.

Thanks to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (Path Act), there have been a few key changes:

• WOTC has been renewed retroactively to January 1st, 2015.
• WOTC has been extended for 5 years through December 31st, 2019.
• A new target group has been added, which is the "Long Term Unemployment Recipient."

What all of this means is that employers can hire eligible workers from the following target groups and receive a tax credit for providing this work opportunity:

• Unemployed Veterans (including disabled veterans)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Recipients
• Food Stamp (SNAP) Recipients
• Designated Community Residents (living in Empowerment Zones or Rural Renewal Counties
• Vocational Rehabilitation Referred Individuals
• Ex-Felons
• Supplemental Security Income Recipients
• Summer Youth Employees (living in Empowerment Zones)

How This is Calculated (and How it Also Benefits You)

The maximum tax credit depends on the wages you pay to the new hire, the new employee's target group and the number of hours worked during the first year of employment.

• Employers generally can earn a tax credit equal to 25% or 40% of a new worker's first-year wages, up to the maximum for the target group to which the employee belongs.

For example, let's say you hire a disabled veteran (one who is entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability) who has been unemployed for 6 months. You, as the employer, are eligible for a maximum tax credit of $9,600!

• The number of hours matters. For all target groups except the long-term TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) recipient, employers will earn 25% if the employee works at least 120 hours, and 40% if the employee works at least 400 hours.

• For the long-term TANF target group, employers earn 40% if the employee works at least 400 hours in the first year, and 50% if the employee works at least 400 hours in the second year. This is helping low income families and giving you a tax break as their employer. To apply, talk to your tax pro about completing IRS form 8850, as a first step.

I've always believed that small business is the engine driving the American economy. If one-third of all Americans need assistance, WOTC is one way to "Be the Change" and get a tax break. Win/win.

Enjoy the entrepreneurial journey.

Inc. helps entrepreneurs change the world. Get the advice you need to start, grow, and lead your business today. Subscribe here for unlimited access.

MAR 1, 2016

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

The absolute sheer driving force of our national economy - without truck drivers, our entire national economy would come to an absolute standstill - if not outright be dead.

Over the mountains, through the woods, into the valleys, coast to coast, from sea to shining sea - truck drivers can and do go anywhere and everywhere, every day, every night, all year round.

 

Two weeks ago a driver tried to pass me on a shoulder and wound up knocking off my right side mirror cover. We pulled over to exchange info and he handed me a temporary paper CDL that had just been issued a couple weeks earlier. The guy spoke almost no English. Later that day I get a call from the number that driver gave me claiming to be the same person, but he spoke great English and REALLY didn't want me to report the accident to my insurance or the CHP. Obviously the guy who hit me wasn't the person on the paper license, and I filed a report with the CHP and to my insurance carrier.

So yeah, it happens.