Can Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Build Successful CDL Careers? | Jason Wang Reair

Jason Wang, Founder and CEO of Free World, shares his remarkable journey from incarceration as a teenager to leading a national nonprofit that trains and places individuals with criminal histories into careers in the trucking industry. After spending years in the juvenile justice system and witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by people reentering society, Jason became determined to create opportunities for others seeking a second chance. Through Free World, he has built a program that removes barriers to employment by providing CDL training, financial support, transportation assistance, and long-term career coaching for participants.In this episode, Jason discusses how Free World partners with more than 160 trucking schools and carriers across the country to help individuals secure meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages and long-term stability. He explains why trucking has become a powerful pathway for economic mobility, shares inspiring success stories from program graduates, and addresses common misconceptions employers may have about hiring individuals with criminal records. This conversation highlights the life-changing impact of opportunity, the importance of workforce development, and how the trucking industry can play a vital role in strengthening both communities and the supply chain.https://freeworld.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwaang/Thank you to our Sponsors!!!https://www.thekag.com/https://info.lincolntech-usa.com/https://www.longhaultrucking.com/https://www.lytx.com/https://www.lincolntech.edu/campus/nashville-tnhttps://www.odfl.com/https://www.republicservices.com/https://drive4roehl.com/https://www.ryder.com/en-ushttps://truckparkingclub.com/The Next Generation in Trucking Association is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America.Visit our website:  www.nextgentruckers.orgContact us at:  [email protected] us on socials here:FacebookInstagramYoutubeLinkedInTikTok