Ingram State Partners With Four Star Freightliner for Apprenticeship

Alabama state officials have come together to back a new apprenticeship program focused on training incarcerated people within Alabama on how to repair and maintain diesel engines in hopes of reducing the state's recidivism while also providing participants with full-time job opportunities upon their release.

The program comes as a result of a two-year partnership between the Alabama Department of Corrections, Four Star Freightliner, and Alabama’s Office of Apprenticeship which began offering the program to potential apprentices this past Tuesday. Apprentices who complete both the program of study and the apprenticeship then have the opportunity to become full-time employees at Four Star Freightliner through the state prison system’s work-release program.

“We see Alabama’s incarcerated population as an untapped resource for the state’s employers like Four Star Freightliner. This apprenticeship aligns perfectly with ADOC’s mission of rehabilitation through training. Inmates learn valuable skills that help them succeed once they reenter society. By providing returning citizens with high-value skill training, we will simultaneously help reduce recidivism and help the employers of our state meet their critical workforce needs”.

John Hamm, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner & Josh Laney Director of Alabama Office of Apprenticeship

Throughout the program's curriculum, apprentices will be able to complete college courses as well as earn lab credit hours through Four Star Freightliner. Once a certain number of training hours and related technical instruction time are completed a participant can then transition to a full-time position through the Alabama Department of Corrections work-release program.

In addition to earning college credit apprenticeship program participants will be able to earn their OSHA safety and forklift certifications. Any potential applicants will be required to have a high school diploma or GED and will have to maintain a minimum-community custody level in accordance with Alabama Department of Corrections policy.