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NYC’s trucking scene at a glance
- 71,270 heavy-truck and tractor-trailer jobs were on the books across the New York–Newark metro in 2023, and demand has only ticked up with e-commerce and supermarket delivery growth. bls.gov
- Thanks to the city’s Fair Chance Act, most employers can’t ask about your criminal history until after they’ve made a conditional job offer—so your skills get the spotlight first. nyc.gov
8 “second-chance” carriers that hire right here in NYC (or just across the Hudson)
1. FreshDirect 📍 Bronx, NY
Grocery e-commerce giant with Bronx yard; hires CDL-A rookies & reviews records case-by-case. See their open jobs here.
2. Baldor Specialty Foods 📍 Hunts Point, Bronx
Refrigerated, mostly day-cab routes; confirmed “yes” to felon applicants on Indeed Q&A. See their open jobs here.
3. US Foods 📍 Perth Amboy, NJ (easy Staten Island bridge hop)
Food-service shuttle & route work; employees report felony hires if charges are older/sealed. See their open jobs here.
4. Sysco 📍 Jersey City, NJ & Central Islip, NJ
Similar to US Foods, with paid training for new grads. See their open jobs here.
5. Ward Trucking 📍 Kearny, NJ
LTL Services (local routes); Overnight Transport; Trucking, Transport, and Supply Chain Logistics; & Brokerage. See their open jobs here.
6. R+L Carriers 📍 Elizabeth, NJ
Nightly line-haul & regional lanes; background check policy reviewed case-by-case.. See their open jobs here.
7. Schneider National 📍 North Bergen, NJ
Their recruiters routinely work with applicants who have older convictions. See their open jobs here.
8. Knight Transportation 📍 Carlisle, PA (OTR freight swings through NYC weekly)
East-coast terminal network, with a proven track record of being a 2nd chance employer. See their open jobs here.
Hottest CDL-A titles hiring around NYC
- OTR Driver – still the fastest path to a paycheck for brand-new grads.
- Food-Service Route Driver – local 2–4 a.m. starts, home daily.
- LTL City P&D Driver – predictable borough-to-borough runs.
- Port Drayage Driver – short-haul containers from Port Newark/Red Hook.
Quick wins you can knock out today
- Apply in batches of ~10 roles. Emerge Career grads who shot-gunned apps landed offers in as little as seven days.
- Message your coach the minute your CDL prints—coaches can fast-track you to partner recruiters who already know you cleared background hurdles.
- Leverage the Career Network Nope—just text or email your coach for warm intros to alumni at Baldor, Schneider, and more.
Emerge Career grads have landed orientation dates just after licensing by following the exact playbook above. Let’s make you the next success story.
