Alliance Worknet and Western Pacific Truck school in Modesto, Ca.

Been trying to get into Western Pacific Truck School through Alliance Worknet.(Stan County funding program)

8 months and counting...

Been jumping through hoops for Alliance since August with no end in sight...
Orientation.
Work Keys test.
DMV H6 printout.
Criminal history printout(I have a low end DV felony from 14 years ago)
Job Search form.
Marketable resume.
2 pre-hire letters.
Did everything they told me to do...

Didn't even meet my case worker until 2 weeks ago.
After I met him, he tells me since my case is more than 90 days old, I have to go back to orientation.
Great. So I do that.

Not my fault he was unable to meet with me for 7 months.....

Then my caseworker tells me he doesn't think my pre-hire letters are "strong enough".
Seriously?

I got a letter from the owner of a trucking company all but guaranteeing me a job once I am licensed.

Not strong enough?

Gimme' a break....

I can't force a carrier to put me on their payroll until I am qualified.

I am just trying to take a class here....

Well, he tells me my paperwork is in the hands of reviewers now....whatever that means...and it will be several weeks before I hear anything...whatever that means.

I don't know if my experience is typical, but I am beginning to think Alliance is a fraud.
Had I known that after 8 months I would still be in limbo with these people I would have just signed up for carrier training and would probably have been gainfully employed long ago.

Anybody else recently go through Alliance?
Do they do this to everyone?

 

Alliance is connected to EDD.
Not sure if being employed disqualifies you.
It probably does, but you need to call them and ask.
They offer training in a NEW field.
I was an unemployed mechanic, so I qualified.
If you have a squeaky clean DMV and criminal history, and a solid work history, the process will be fast.
I have a 13 year old DV felony(thanks OJ), and 3 tickets from 2009.
That is what made it take so long.
I had to get the pre hires because of the background check.
It was a total PITA.
I also had the laziest case worker in the building who should have given me the laundry list on day 1, but stretched it out over months.
I finally got in, and just completed my 3rd week at WP.
It's a GREAT school, and they help with placement.
There are other schools in the area, but their training varies.
Some train you on a 6 speed. Useless.
Some have computer training to get the permit.
That might work, since getting the initial permit is just a bunch of written tests.
Some will allow you to graduate and take the DMV driving test early if you want.
Better for them, not so much for you if you really want to get the skills down although after 2 weeks behind the wheel you will have it down.

WP has live instruction in every phase, and they are very good.
They train you on a Freightliner with an Eaton Fuller 10 speed.
You practice with a 28 foot trailer and a 53.

I would try to get county funding if I was you.
$5k is a big chunk of change, and I do not trust carrier CDL training.
If you go there, take to 4 week/8 hour per day version as opposed to the 7 week/4 hours daily version.
The permit training is 3 days in the class, then out to the yard for driving skills.
Time flies by.

Good luck with it all.

 

I just graduated yesterday and already got hired.
Once you actually get in, time flies and you positively will get your CDL.
Keep in mind that some carriers offer tuition reimbursement.
There are cheaper schools, and they all do the exact same thing: teach you haw to pass a DMV test. That is all.
But, WPT is a great school, and if you are serious about getting a CDL, do it any way you can.
You can also finance through WPT.

 

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