Will unemployment pay for my CDL training in New York?

Thanks! Do you know how long the approval process takes? I found a 3-week CDL program that starts next month.

That's awesome! How long did it take to get approved and what was the process like?

took about 2 weeks for approval, had to meet with a counselor and show them job prospects in trucking. totally worth it though, making way more now than my old job

That's frustrating but not surprising. The approval depends a lot on your local job market and the counselor you get. If you can show strong demand for CDL drivers in your area or nearby regions, that helps a lot with approval.

I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor agents. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to unemployment agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.

That sounds helpful! I'll check it out, thanks for the tip.

This is really helpful, thanks for sharing your experience! The tip about bringing job postings to show demand is smart. Did you have any trouble with the school you chose, or did everything go smoothly once you got approved? I'm trying to decide between a few different programs and want to make sure I pick one that won't cause issues with the state.

The school I chose worked out great - no issues at all once I had the approval letter from workforce development. My advice would be to call the schools directly and ask if they're familiar with the WIOA program and have worked with NYS Department of Labor students before. The ones that have experience with it will know exactly what paperwork they need and can help make sure everything goes smoothly. Also ask about their job placement rates and if they have relationships with local trucking companies - that really helped me land a job right after graduation.

Great question! From what I understand, you're not required to take the first job offered, but you do need to show you're actively looking for work in the field you trained for. The state wants to see that their investment in your training is paying off, but they generally give you reasonable time to find a good fit. As for local vs long-haul, I don't think there are specific restrictions on job type as long as it's using your CDL. Local driving jobs are definitely out there - delivery companies, waste management, construction, etc. all need CDL drivers who can be home daily. When you meet with your workforce counselor, definitely mention your family situation and preference for local work. They might even be able to help you connect with local employers who are looking for drivers.

That's really useful info about the high demand and waiting lists! I hadn't thought about looking for programs with company partnerships - that's a smart way to strengthen your application. Do you remember if the counselor mentioned roughly how long the waiting list is in your area, or if there's anything else you can do to improve your chances of getting approved quickly? I'm hoping to get started as soon as possible since I've been out of work for a while now.

She didn't give me an exact timeframe for the waiting list, but she did say they're processing applications as quickly as possible and that having all your paperwork ready can speed things up. She mentioned that people who come in with a clear plan - like already knowing which approved school they want to attend, having researched local job opportunities, and being able to articulate why trucking is a good career fit for them - tend to move through the process faster. Also, being flexible about your training start date can help since they might be able to fit you into a program sooner if someone else drops out. I'd definitely recommend calling your local center ASAP to get on their radar and start the conversation!

Don't worry about having waited a few months - from my experience, they don't really care how long you've been collecting as long as you still have time left on your claim and are actively looking for work. If anything, having been unemployed for a while might actually help show that you need the training to get back into the workforce. The counselors understand that people need time to figure out their next steps, and CDL training is seen as a solid career change that leads to stable employment. I'd say go ahead and contact your One-Stop Career Center - the worst they can say is no, but you won't know unless you try!

Great question about the different CDL classes! From what I've learned researching this, Class A CDL (tractor-trailers, big rigs) tends to have more job opportunities and higher pay, but Class B (delivery trucks, buses, dump trucks) might be better for staying local like you want. Most of the local delivery companies - UPS, FedEx, local food distributors, waste management - use Class B vehicles. I'd suggest looking up job postings for both types in your area to see what's more in demand. When you talk to the workforce counselor, they should be able to help you figure out which makes more sense based on your local job market. The approval process should be similar regardless of which class you choose, as long as you can show there are jobs available for that type of license in your area.

That's a really important question about part-time work during training! From what I understand, you can usually work part-time while on unemployment and in approved training, but you have to report any earnings on your weekly claims and it might reduce your benefit amount depending on how much you make. The key is being upfront about it - definitely ask your workforce counselor about the specific rules when you meet with them. They should be able to explain exactly what you can and can't do without jeopardizing your training approval or benefits. Don't try to figure it out on your own since the rules can be pretty specific. Good luck with getting started on the process!

Your construction background should actually be a huge advantage! Construction workers are often seen as ideal candidates for CDL training because you already understand working with heavy equipment, following safety protocols, and have experience with physical/demanding work. Plus, there's a lot of crossover - many construction companies need CDL drivers for their own equipment and material transport. When you meet with the workforce counselor, definitely emphasize your construction experience and how it translates to commercial driving. You might also want to research construction companies in your area that hire CDL drivers, since you'd already understand their operations. The counselors love to see that connection between your previous experience and your training goals. Good luck!

For researching the local CDL job market beyond typical job sites, I'd recommend checking out the Bureau of Labor Statistics website (bls.gov) - they have detailed data on transportation jobs by metro area including growth projections and average wages. Also try contacting local trucking associations or chambers of commerce, as they often have insights into which companies are actively hiring. Don't forget to look at government jobs too - many municipal, county, and state agencies need CDL drivers for everything from road maintenance to public transit. You might also want to visit truck stops or logistics hubs in your area and just talk to drivers - they're usually pretty willing to share info about which companies treat drivers well and are actively recruiting. The more comprehensive your research, the more impressed your workforce counselor will be!