What would you do?

Blue Ridge Community College in Verona Virginia has a tractor trailer school that costs around $500.00 for the course.

 

WIA IS a federal program that falls within the fun stuff the unemployment offices get to work with.

However, its tricky getting into that. I tried to get into that program for funding of a local trucking school and I was shot down because Im a teacher and apparently sub teaching is supposed to be sufficient. While it might work for some, it wont work for others that have degrees or qualifications and there are opportunities of some sort within that field in that area.

 

Coach talk to the financial aid office at the school, I qualified for it and my wife make goooood money. It is a state program. only the financial aid office has the info............

 

This is true - but what that means is you have to be creative when describing your job. Like, you teach left-handed softball throwing.. or something like that. I came from a career/job in telecommunications - it was a bear defining my job in such a was as to consistently come up with zero openings.

I suppose, though, there are some jobs that are just so broadly based that trying to finagle them down to something that meets the criteria is.. difficult.

And, yes, finances come into it, too - I keep forgetting it, because my finances suck with only one of us working.

 

Good stuff here. The word is out that the WIA may help some people get retraining grants. I sure wish I would/could have gotten a grant. But enough of that sob story. Some of you guys will make better decisions. Again, it's great to hear it.

To the OP: don't forget your opportunity costs when you go to driving school. If the school is one month, and you make 3500 a month at your present job, well...you'll have to add the 3500 to your total cost. You'll spend that time sittin' in a classroom studyin' a manual or sittin' in a cab watching somebody else drive. You won't be working. Let's see how much you're going to REALLY pay: 4000 + 3500 = 7500 bones for training.

Try like hell to get that grant.

Knowing what I know now (thanks to the college of hard knocks), meaning you know better (thanks to this easy-to-access site), I wouldn't pay that much to learn how to drive a truck. I'd pay around a grand AT MOST.

 

Add to the above:

I'd make sure the opportunity cost was as low as I could make it. I'd ask the school if I could forego the in-class stage until it was time to come in and get the learner's permit. You can get the manual from the DMV and study it on your own while working your job until the last possible minute. You should need only about three days to know enough to pass the written learner's test with flying colors. You definitely don't need the two or three weeks some mills put students through.

On top of it all, you WILL have to go out with a trainer for several weeks after getting your license and your first job. Definitely get that grant and/or go cheap on the training. Be sure your first outfit is a good one, too. That'll increase the odds you'll survive your first year as a greenie doormat.

Have fun.

 

Talk about ignorance on my part:

I went to a very good school (IMO), to get in; you showed up with a physical, pee-test, and your learners permit; then school started off with you learning all the stuff you don't need to know to get a permit. 1/2 book work and half driving or road range.

Cost $2500

I didn't know schools were spending time/money teaching guys the stuff from the state manual so they could get a permit. Makes sense why some are quoting 4-5k.

 

go for it.