LeFrak, NJRC expand CDL training for court-involved people and veterans

The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation and the New Jersey Reentry Corporation are expanding a CDL training program in New Jersey that aims to connect court-involved people and veterans to transportation jobs. The initiative has already drawn more than 200 expressions of interest and is seeking additional funding to reach more participants.

Why it matters: - New Jersey and the greater New York-New Jersey freight corridor need more commercial drivers to support ports, airports, interstate trucking, warehousing and last-mile delivery. - The LeFrak CDL Training Initiative gives court-involved people and veterans a path to a credential that can lead to steady work, family stability and long-term economic mobility. - NJRC says the program also addresses barriers that often keep returning citizens and veterans out of the workforce, including housing, treatment, legal and benefits issues.

What happened: - The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation and the New Jersey Reentry Corporation announced the continued growth of the LeFrak CDL Training Initiative in Secaucus, New Jersey. - The program provides eligible participants with support to earn Commercial Driver’s Licenses and move into transportation and logistics careers. - The initiative is supported by an initial $300,000 investment from the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation. - NJRC is also seeking an additional $100,000 to expand access, and the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation has committed to match those funds.

The details: - The initiative covers financial support, DOT physicals, permit preparation, classroom instruction, yard training, state testing coordination and employment placement. - NJRC works with EZ Wheels Driving School in Secaucus and elsewhere in New Jersey to move participants through the CDL process. - Early participation includes 26 people in active CDL training, 56 completed DOT physicals and 57 people who have met program conditions and are preparing for training. - More than 200 people have expressed interest in the program. - Current participants come from Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic and Union counties. - Veterans are among the participants seeking new careers after service. - NJRC says its three-year reincarceration rate is 14.01%. - NJRC says about 72% of its training participants secure employment, internships or continue their education. - The program is designed to connect participants with transportation, logistics, delivery and freight employers, including Amazon, FedEx, UPS, Schneider National, Swift Transportation and Western Express.

Between the lines: - The expansion shows how workforce programs are increasingly pairing job training with reentry services to improve completion and placement rates. - The early interest level suggests strong demand for a credential that can offer faster entry into stable work than many other career paths. - The initiative also reflects a broader labor-market strategy: connect an underemployed population to a sector facing persistent driver demand.

What’s next: - The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation and NJRC are planning a press event at EZ Wheels in Secaucus to recognize participants, highlight community partnerships and showcase the program’s impact. - The event is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at EZ Wheels Training Yard in Secaucus, New Jersey. - Donations to support the expansion can be made through the program donation page. - The event will feature participants, workforce development partners and leaders from both organizations.

The bottom line: - The LeFrak CDL Training Initiative is scaling because it is meeting two needs at once: labor demand in a key logistics region and a pathway to work for people facing barriers to employment.