LeFrak Foundation donates $300k in CDL training for New Jersey Reentry Corp.
The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation is donating $300,000 for commercial driver’s license (CDL) training for the New Jersey Reentry Corporation in the midst of a national driver shortage.
Industry estimates indicate that the U.S. trucking sector will need to hire more than 1.1 million new drivers over the next decade to keep pace with freight demand, according to the NJRC.
The foundation’s investment in CDL training through the NJRC “reflects a recognition that workforce development, economic stability, and public safety are deeply interconnected,” the nonprofit said.
For individuals returning from incarceration or navigating the court system, access to training is often delayed not by lack of motivation, but by unresolved legal and financial barriers.
Outstanding municipal fines, bail obligations, and administrative hurdles frequently prevent people from enrolling in training programs at precisely the moment they are ready to work. These delays create instability and increase the risk of recidivism, the NJRC states.
According to NJRC’s 2025 Annual Report, the organization has secured more than $6.1 million in municipal court fines and bail relief, removing significant obstacles to employment and stability for thousands of New Jersey residents.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View