A free workforce training program in Red Hook is helping unemployed New Yorkers pursue commercial driving careers by providing hands-on instruction and support beyond earning a commercial driver’s license, according to News 12 Brooklyn.
Red Hook on the Road, operated by Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, provides four weeks of training, including one week in the classroom and three weeks of behind-the-wheel instruction.
Participants learn to maneuver large vehicles, read maps, drive defensively and safely navigate New York City streets before taking the New York state CDL road test.
“Some go on to drive school buses or coach buses, while others may find work driving Access-A-Ride vehicles, trucks or eventually pursue other commercial driving opportunities,” said Soto.
The program offers Brooklyn residents and other unemployed New Yorkers a pathway into commercial driving, an industry with opportunities to operate trucks, school buses, coach buses and Access-A-Ride vehicles. Participants must have a valid New York state driver’s license and meet the program’s eligibility and driving-history requirements.
The program also extends beyond the classroom and road test. Graduates receive up to two years of job placement assistance, career counseling and career development support as they enter the commercial driving industry and pursue opportunities for advancement.
The training is free, but participants do not receive stipends and must be able to cover their personal expenses while completing the program and searching for employment. The program also has a limited number of training slots available each month.
Those interested in applying must first attend a required online information session before submitting an application. Upcoming sessions are scheduled for Sept. 14 and Sept. 21 at noon. Applicants can review eligibility requirements and begin the application process through Brooklyn Workforce Innovations’ Red Hook on the Road program.
The initiative gives unemployed New Yorkers an opportunity to gain specialized driving skills while connecting them with employers and longer-term career support.
