Free CDL Training for "Justice Involved": A New NYC CDL Program

NYC Expands CDL Training for “Justice-Involved” New Yorkers

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a major expansion of the city’s CDL training program. The initiative helps justice-involved New Yorkers start new careers and supports workforce development in trucking.

CDL Training Program Expansion in NYC

The CDL training program began in 2025 with 20 participants in its pilot class. In 2026, the city will expand the program to 300 individuals. This is a 15-fold increase.

The program is managed by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) in partnership with Emerge Career. The city has committed multi-million-dollar funding to cover tuition-free CDL training, personal coaching, and job placement support.

Mayor Adams said the expansion reflects the city’s focus on second chances. “One mistake should not destroy a person’s life because a bend in the road should not be the end of a road,” Adams stated. “This innovative program provides formerly justice-involved New Yorkers with the skills they need to earn a CDL and connects them with meaningful employment opportunities…”

Creating Jobs and Higher Starting Salaries

Every graduate of the 2025 CDL training pilot secured a full-time job in trucking. Reported starting salaries ranged from $78,000 to $124,800 per year.

By comparison, the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is about 60 percent — 12 times higher than the national average.

MOCJ Director Deanna Logan explained the importance of employment for stability. “Research has taught us that one of the easiest ways to improve community safety is to help New Yorkers find financial stability,” Logan said. “The data is also showing us that our investments in Emerge Career are paying immense dividends, in real second chances and wealth creation for some of our city’s most disadvantaged communities.”

CDL Training and Workforce Development

CDL training offers a direct path to high-paying, stable jobs.

Emerge Career co-founder Zo Orchingwa said the partnership with the city represents a new model for workforce development. “This expansion marks a significant milestone, [but] it’s only the start — our goal is to create lasting high-wage careers for every disadvantaged New Yorker and to transform reentry workforce development,” he said.

Emerge co-founder Gabriel Saruhashi added that the CDL training program also connects participants to community resources. “Our all-in-one workforce development platform gives case workers, emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and supervision agencies real-time visibility into participants’ journeys — which is how our participants succeed at rates 50 percent higher than national averages and earn nearly twice as much as the typical graduate,” he said. He added that the expansion is projected to generate “$24 million in new wealth for their communities and the city.”

CDL Training Addresses Barriers to Reentry

Studies have shown that unemployment is a major barrier for people returning from incarceration. A 2018 Brookings study found that more than 80 percent of incarcerated men were jobless in the year before incarceration. After release, only 20 percent earned at least $15,000 in their first year back.

Program leaders noted that CDL training is changing these outcomes. Graduates are entering higher-paying jobs, giving them greater financial security and building wealth for their families and neighborhoods.

District Attorneys Support Program Expansion

Local prosecutors voiced their support for the program. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said the expansion is “exactly the type of intervention that helps reduce crime by offering people a better path.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called the initiative “life changing for New Yorkers who are re-entering into their communities.”

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said CDL training “has proven to be a success in providing employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals.”

City Budget Investments in Reentry and CDL Training

The city’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget includes several investments to support reentry services and related programs. These include:

• $7.6 million for alternatives to incarceration such as counseling, case management, and housing assistance.
• $6.5 million for nonprofits providing reentry services, indigent defense, and supervised release.
• $4.7 million for job readiness programs, healthcare, counseling, and housing support.
• $2 million for “Project Restore,” a community-based violence intervention initiative.
• $2 million to create the South Bronx Community Justice Center.

Future of CDL Training in New York City

City officials said the CDL training program will continue to expand beyond 2026. Leaders cited both the strong job placement record of the pilot program and the ongoing need for skilled drivers.

The initiative remains a central part of New York City’s broader strategy to link public safety with workforce development and long-term economic mobility.

CDL Training Program Eligibility

The city’s announcement did not provide details about what types of prior offenses would or would not allow an individual to participate in the CDL training program. It only referred to participants as “justice-involved” or “formerly incarcerated.”

However, it is important to note that federal law already sets rules for who can hold a commercial driver’s license. Under FMCSA regulations, individuals may be disqualified from receiving a CDL for certain violations. These restrictions apply nationwide and are to remain in effect regardless of local training opportunities.