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RED HOOK ON THE ROAD TRAINING PROGRAM

Red Hook on the Road helps unemployed New Yorkers who already have their Class D license start new careers in commercial driving. Following four weeks of classroom and behind-the-wheel training, students take the NYS Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) road test. Once grads are licensed, they’re ready to be placed in a job with our network of employers throughout the city.

Red Hook on the Road’s CDL training program is four weeks long, with one week of in-class instruction and three weeks of behind-the-wheel instruction. Trainees learn map reading, how to maneuver large vehicles, defensive driving, and other skills needed on the job. Following the training course, graduates receive two years of job placement assistance, career counseling, and support as they continue working and advance into new roles.

All BWI training programs are offered free of charge. However, trainees must be able to cover their personal expenses during the training and job search. We are unable to provide stipends.

WHAT COMES AFTER TRAINING

Graduates, after successfully passing the road test, are placed into jobs driving school buses, Coach buses, Access-A-Ride vehicles, and trucks. Businesses in Red Hook on the Road’s extensive employer network frequently offer benefits and good starting wages.

Jobs sometimes start early in the morning and usually require traveling throughout the five boroughs. Some local trucking jobs require the ability to bend and lift up to 70 lbs, though many graduates also work in jobs that do not require lifting.

BWI’s mission is to empower low-income New Yorkers by creating living-wage employment opportunities and access to career paths. Our programs counter prevailing market inequalities, especially those based on race or gender, and contribute to a broader movement for economic justice.