Second Chance Guide — CDL Directory · Northeast Region
CDL schools and trucking carriers across the Northeast — with felony hiring policies documented for each entry. Covers paid CDL training programs, private schools, community college programs, and carriers with known second-chance hiring practices. Manually researched. Updated April 2026. For federal disqualifiers and state-level CDL rules, see the full guide: Can a Felon Get a CDL?
Jump to state:
Connecticut
3 listings. Connecticut sits on one of the densest freight corridors in the country — I-95 between New York and Boston runs straight through the state. Connecticut has a strong Ban the Box law covering private employers, giving applicants more runway before a background check surfaces. State follows federal CDL disqualifiers.
Capital CC
Capital Community College — CDL Program
CDL School (Public) · Hartford, CT Felony-Friendly
Public CDL training in Hartford at a fraction of private school cost. WIOA funding available through Connecticut’s American Job Centers for qualifying reentry candidates. No felony exclusion at admission. I-91 and I-84 corridor carrier connections post-graduation.
Felony policy: Public institution — no blanket exclusion. WIOA pathway available. Confirm eligibility through CT American Job Centers before paying out of pocket.
160 Driving Academy
160 Driving Academy — Connecticut
CDL School · CT Felony-Friendly
Connecticut campus with documented felony-friendly admissions. Class A training in 3–4 weeks. Career services advises on carrier match based on specific record type. Strong I-95 corridor carrier network accessible from this campus.
Felony policy: Explicitly accepts felony applicants. Career services provides carrier matching based on offense type — informed placement support, not a guarantee.
Old Dominion Freight
Old Dominion Freight Line
LTL Carrier · Nationwide (CT/I-95 terminals) Case-by-Case
LTL carrier with Connecticut terminal operations on the I-95 corridor. Regional delivery routes mean regular home time — important for people managing supervision requirements. Dock-to-driver career path available as a lower-barrier entry point.
Felony policy: Individual review. Dock-to-driver path often more accessible than direct CDL hire. Non-violent felonies with post-conviction stability weigh favorably. Violent offenses and drug trafficking disqualify.
CDL school or carrier operating in Connecticut? Get listed in this directory →
Maine
3 listings. Maine’s timber, agricultural, and port freight sectors create steady CDL demand — particularly for flatbed and regional drivers. Private CDL school options are limited statewide; Southern Maine Community College is the most accessible public training option. State follows federal CDL disqualifiers. WIOA funding available through Maine CareerCenters.
SMCC
Southern Maine Community College — CDL Program
CDL School (Public) · South Portland, ME Felony-Friendly
Public CDL training near Portland — the state’s largest city and primary freight hub. WIOA funding available through Maine CareerCenters for qualifying reentry candidates. No felony exclusion at admission. Portland-area regional carrier access post-graduation.
Felony policy: Public institution — no blanket exclusion. WIOA pathway available through Maine CareerCenters. Lower cost than private schools reduces financial risk if a carrier later declines.
Prime Inc.
Prime Inc. — Paid CDL Training Program
Carrier + Paid Training · Nationwide (ME/Northeast routes) Felony-Friendly
Paid CDL training, no upfront cost. Maine connects to Prime’s Northeast refrigerated and flatbed network. Explicitly felony-friendly — one of the few large carriers to publicly state this position. Review completed before training commitment.
Felony policy: Explicitly felony-friendly. Drug trafficking, violent felonies, sex offenses disqualify. Non-violent felonies with clean MVR frequently approved.
Werner Enterprises
Werner Enterprises
OTR Carrier · Nationwide (ME/I-95 routes) 10-Year Look-Back
Major carrier with Northeast corridor coverage running through Maine on I-95. Convictions older than 10 years with a clean post-conviction record may clear driver qualification review. OTR and regional positions available.
Felony policy: 10-year look-back. Drug trafficking, violent felonies, sex offenses disqualify regardless of age. HazMat not available. Clean MVR carries significant weight.
CDL school or carrier operating in Maine? Get listed in this directory →
Massachusetts
3 listings. Boston and Worcester anchor Massachusetts freight activity — distribution, LTL, and regional carriers all operate heavily through the state. Massachusetts has one of the strongest CORI reform laws in the country, limiting how and when employers can use criminal record information. State follows federal CDL disqualifiers. WIOA funding available through MassHire Career Centers.
Quinsigamond CC
Quinsigamond Community College — CDL Program
CDL School (Public) · Worcester, MA Felony-Friendly
Public CDL training in Worcester — centrally located with access to both Boston and Springfield carrier hiring. WIOA and Pell funding available through MassHire Career Centers. No felony exclusion at admission. One of the more affordable CDL training options in the state.
Felony policy: Public institution — no blanket exclusion. WIOA pathway through MassHire commonly available for reentry candidates. MA CORI reform rules also limit early-stage record inquiry from private carriers.
160 Driving Academy
160 Driving Academy — Massachusetts
CDL School · MA Felony-Friendly
Massachusetts campus with documented felony-friendly admissions. Class A training in 3–4 weeks. Career services advises on carrier compatibility based on record type. FAFSA and veterans benefits accepted.
Felony policy: Explicitly accepts felony applicants. Career services provides honest carrier matching guidance — ask specifically for felony-aware placement support during enrollment.
Old Dominion Freight
Old Dominion Freight Line
LTL Carrier · Nationwide (MA/Boston terminal) Case-by-Case
LTL carrier with Boston-area terminal operations. Regional delivery routes mean consistent home time — important for people managing supervision. Dock-to-driver path available as a lower-barrier entry into a CDL role over time.
Felony policy: Individual review. Dock-to-driver path often more accessible than direct CDL hire. Non-violent felonies with post-conviction stability reviewed favorably. Drug trafficking and violent offenses disqualify.
CDL school or carrier operating in Massachusetts? Get listed in this directory →
New Hampshire
3 listings. New Hampshire has limited in-state CDL school options — candidates often travel to Maine or Massachusetts for training. Paid CDL training through carriers is the most practical pathway for most NH residents with records, as it eliminates the upfront cost and school-selection risk. State follows federal CDL disqualifiers.
NHTI
NHTI — Concord’s Community College
CDL School (Public) · Concord, NH Felony-Friendly
New Hampshire’s primary public technical college offers CDL-related transportation training in Concord. WIOA funding available through NH Works for qualifying candidates. No felony exclusion at the public institution level. Confirm current CDL program availability and schedule directly with the college.
Felony policy: Public institution — no blanket exclusion. WIOA pathway available through NH Works centers. Call ahead to confirm current CDL program schedule before applying.
C.R. England
C.R. England — Paid CDL Training Program
Carrier + Paid Training · Nationwide (NH/I-93 routes) Case-by-Case
Paid CDL training, no upfront cost — a practical option given NH’s limited local school choices. Temperature-controlled carrier with Northeast corridor routes. Felony review before training enrollment — you know your status before committing.
Felony policy: Case-by-case. Drug trafficking, violent felonies, sex offenses disqualify. Non-violent felonies 7+ years old with clean driving history have cleared review. HazMat not available.
Prime Inc.
Prime Inc. — Paid CDL Training Program
Carrier + Paid Training · Nationwide (NH/Northeast routes) Felony-Friendly
Paid CDL training, no upfront cost. An especially practical pathway for NH residents given the limited local school options. Explicitly felony-friendly — non-violent felony applications reviewed individually rather than automatically rejected.
Felony policy: Explicitly felony-friendly. Drug trafficking, violent felonies, sex offenses disqualify. Non-violent felonies with clean MVR frequently approved.
CDL school or carrier operating in New Hampshire? Get listed in this directory →
New Jersey
3 listings. New Jersey’s ports at Newark and Elizabeth are among the busiest in the country — port drayage CDL demand is consistently high and often more accessible to drivers with records than OTR positions. New Jersey has a strong Opportunity to Compete Act (Ban the Box) covering most employers. State follows federal CDL disqualifiers.
160 Driving Academy
160 Driving Academy — New Jersey
CDL School · NJ Felony-Friendly
New Jersey campus with documented felony-friendly admissions. Class A training in 3–4 weeks. Strong port drayage and regional carrier network accessible from NJ. Career services advises on carrier compatibility based on offense type before you commit.
Felony policy: Explicitly accepts felony applicants. Career services provides carrier matching guidance — particularly useful for navigating the NJ port drayage market with a record.
Roehl Transport
Roehl Transport — Paid CDL Training Program
Carrier + Paid Training · Nationwide (NJ/Northeast routes) Case-by-Case
Paid CDL training, zero to licensed in approximately 22 days. New Jersey and Northeast corridor routes available post-graduation. Individual felony review — non-violent convictions with clean MVR and stable post-release history have been approved.
Felony policy: Case-by-case. Non-violent felonies with elapsed time and clean MVR considered. Drug trafficking and violent offenses disqualify. Full disclosure upfront is essential.
Old Dominion Freight
Old Dominion Freight Line
LTL Carrier · Nationwide (NJ/Port Newark terminal) Case-by-Case
LTL carrier with New Jersey terminal operations near Port Newark. Regional routes and consistent home time. Dock-to-driver career path available — a lower-barrier entry that lets you build a work history before moving into a full driving role.
Felony policy: Individual review. Dock-to-driver path often more accessible than direct CDL hire. Non-violent felonies with post-conviction stability weigh favorably. Drug trafficking and violent offenses disqualify.
CDL school or carrier operating in New Jersey? Get listed in this directory →
New York
3 listings. New York City’s distribution sector and upstate freight corridors both create strong CDL demand. New York has one of the most protective criminal record laws in the country — the Correction Law Article 23-A requires employers to consider the relationship between the offense and the job, which benefits CDL applicants during carrier review. State follows federal CDL disqualifiers.
Erie Community College
Erie Community College — CDL Program
CDL School (Public) · Buffalo, NY Felony-Friendly
Public CDL training in Buffalo — a major freight hub with I-90 corridor access and cross-border freight activity. WIOA and Pell funding available. No felony exclusion at admission. Buffalo-area regional carrier market is more accessible than NYC for drivers with records.
Felony policy: Public institution — no blanket exclusion. WIOA pathway available through NY DOL Workforce Development. NY Correction Law Article 23-A also limits how carriers can use criminal history in hiring decisions.
160 Driving Academy
160 Driving Academy — New York
CDL School · NY Felony-Friendly
New York campus with documented felony-friendly admissions. Class A training in 3–4 weeks. Career services advises on carrier match based on specific record. NY’s Correction Law Article 23-A provides additional protections during the carrier hiring process.
Felony policy: Explicitly accepts felony applicants. NY law also limits how carriers can weigh criminal history — context matters, and a clear explanation of your record can carry more weight in NY than in other states.
Old Dominion Freight
Old Dominion Freight Line
LTL Carrier · Nationwide (NY terminals) Case-by-Case
LTL carrier with New York terminal operations statewide. Regional routes and consistent home time. Dock-to-driver path available. NY’s Article 23-A requires carriers to assess the relationship between offense and job — provides an additional layer of protection during review.
Felony policy: Individual review. NY law provides additional hiring protections. Dock-to-driver path often more accessible than direct CDL hire. Non-violent felonies with post-conviction stability weigh favorably.
CDL school or carrier operating in New York? Get listed in this directory →
Pennsylvania
3 listings. Pennsylvania is a major freight corridor state — I-78, I-76, and I-81 carry enormous interstate freight volume between the Midwest and the Northeast. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh anchor the state’s trucking industry. Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Act seals some misdemeanor records after 10 years, but felonies are not included — and sealed records still appear on FMCSA PSP reports carriers pull separately.
PA Truck Driving School
Pennsylvania Truck Driving School
CDL School · Harrisburg, PA Case-by-Case
Established CDL school in Harrisburg with experience advising applicants with criminal records. Staff advises honestly on carrier hire likelihood before enrollment. Has placed graduates with records at regional carriers operating on the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh corridor.
Felony policy: Case-by-case at enrollment. Provides realistic guidance on carrier hire likelihood before you commit to tuition. Ask explicitly for felony-aware carrier placement support during intake.
Roehl Transport
Roehl Transport — Paid CDL Training Program
Carrier + Paid Training · Nationwide (PA I-78/I-76 routes) Case-by-Case
Paid CDL training, zero to licensed in approximately 22 days. Pennsylvania freight lanes are core to Roehl’s Midwest-to-Northeast network. PA-based trainees can request regional routes to stay closer to home post-graduation.
Felony policy: Case-by-case. Non-violent felonies with elapsed time and clean MVR considered. Drug trafficking and violent offenses disqualify. Inconsistencies during background check are a harder barrier than the record itself.
Old Dominion Freight
Old Dominion Freight Line
LTL Carrier · Nationwide (PA terminals) Case-by-Case
LTL carrier with multiple Pennsylvania terminal operations. Regional delivery and consistent home time. Dock-to-driver path available. Pennsylvania’s I-78 and I-81 corridors are among the busiest in the country — strong driver demand year-round.
Felony policy: Individual review. Dock-to-driver path often more accessible than direct CDL hire. Non-violent felonies with post-conviction stability weigh favorably. Drug trafficking and violent offenses disqualify.
CDL school or carrier operating in Pennsylvania? Get listed in this directory →
Rhode Island
3 listings. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the region but sits directly on the I-95 corridor between Providence and the Boston-New York freight lane. Public CDL training through CCRI is the primary in-state option. State follows federal CDL disqualifiers. WIOA funding available through RI Department of Labor and Training.
CCRI
Community College of Rhode Island — CDL Program
CDL School (Public) · Lincoln, RI Felony-Friendly
Rhode Island’s primary public CDL training option. WIOA and Pell funding available through RI Department of Labor and Training — reentry candidates commonly qualify. No felony exclusion at admission. I-95 corridor carrier access from the Lincoln campus.
Felony policy: Public institution — no blanket exclusion. WIOA pathway available. Smallest state in the region means most carrier hiring pulls from the broader Northeast market — carrier options extend into MA, CT, and NY.
Swift Transportation
Swift Transportation — Swift Academy
Carrier + Paid Training · Nationwide (RI/I-95 routes) Case-by-Case
Paid CDL training, no upfront cost. Northeast I-95 corridor routes available post-graduation. Felony disclosure at application — background review before training enrollment begins, so no time wasted if declined.
Felony policy: Case-by-case. Drug trafficking, violent felonies, sex offenses disqualify. Non-violent felonies reviewed — time elapsed and post-release conduct are the key factors.
Werner Enterprises
Werner Enterprises
OTR Carrier · Nationwide (RI/Northeast routes) 10-Year Look-Back
Major carrier with Northeast I-95 corridor coverage. Convictions older than 10 years with a clean post-conviction record may clear driver qualification review. Regional positions available alongside OTR for drivers who need to stay closer to home.
Felony policy: 10-year look-back. Drug trafficking, violent felonies, sex offenses disqualify regardless of age. HazMat not available. Clean MVR is essential.
CDL school or carrier operating in Rhode Island? Get listed in this directory →
Vermont
3 listings. Vermont has very limited private CDL school infrastructure — Vermont Technical College is the primary in-state training option. Many Vermont candidates use paid training programs through carriers, which eliminates the school selection problem entirely. State follows federal CDL disqualifiers. WIOA funding available through Vermont Department of Labor.
Vermont Tech
Vermont Technical College — CDL Program
CDL School (Public) · Randolph Center, VT Felony-Friendly
Vermont’s primary public CDL training option. WIOA funding available through Vermont Department of Labor for qualifying candidates. No felony exclusion at the public institution level. The most affordable and accessible in-state CDL training pathway for reentry candidates.
Felony policy: Public institution — no blanket exclusion. WIOA pathway available through Vermont DOL. Confirm current CDL program schedule and WIOA eligibility directly with the college before enrolling.
Prime Inc.
Prime Inc. — Paid CDL Training Program
Carrier + Paid Training · Nationwide (VT/Northeast routes) Felony-Friendly
Paid CDL training, no upfront cost — the most practical pathway for most Vermont candidates given the limited local school options. Explicitly felony-friendly. Northeast corridor routes available post-graduation.
Felony policy: Explicitly felony-friendly. Drug trafficking, violent felonies, sex offenses disqualify. Non-violent felonies with clean MVR frequently approved.
Werner Enterprises
Werner Enterprises
OTR Carrier · Nationwide (VT/Northeast routes) 10-Year Look-Back
Major carrier with Northeast corridor coverage including Vermont I-89 and I-91 freight lanes. Convictions older than 10 years with a clean post-conviction record may clear driver qualification review.
Felony policy: 10-year look-back. Drug trafficking, violent felonies, sex offenses disqualify regardless of age. HazMat not available. Clean MVR carries significant weight in review.
CDL school or carrier operating in Vermont? Get listed in this directory →
Note on felony policy accuracy: Carrier and school policies change. Always confirm current policy directly with the carrier or school before enrolling in training or turning down other opportunities. Policy notes above reflect documented practices as of early 2026 — use them as a starting point, not a guarantee. For federal CDL disqualifiers, see the full guide: Can a Felon Get a CDL?