JLC Second Chance Trucking helps formerly incarcerated people find jobs

Jerry Cox has learned a lot over the past year since opening a Siloam Springs office for nonprofit JLC Second Chance Trucking. He’s also done a lot of networking and met a lot of people to raise awareness about the 501(c)(3).

Cox has attended or been invited to galas and hall of fame events and spoken to NFL legends, nonprofit leaders, and existing and former governors. Pictures of supporters cover the walls throughout his office.

But running a nonprofit hasn’t been easy. He’s learned patience is key, and leading a nonprofit differs significantly from a for-profit company.

“The biggest thing that I had to learn and understand in a nonprofit, before you can even get to a point where you want to do the things that you say you want to do, you have to build a solid foundation first,” Cox said. “After a year, I’ve built a very solid foundation, and now it’s time to start building the building on the foundation that I’ve laid out.”

He was formerly an owner-operator with over 5 million safe driving miles and the rings to prove it. He was a truck driver for more than 40 years.

Cox is the founder and executive director of a nonprofit that helps formerly incarcerated people find jobs as truck drivers. He knows the challenges in finding work for those recently released from prison. He was sentenced to prison for a crime he didn’t commit in Texas. The case was eventually thrown out, but he struggled to find a job after being released.

He said an Amarillo, Texas-based cattle hauling company took a chance on him, and he was behind the wheel again. Now, Cox is helping others who’ve been incarcerated get a second chance.

Cox began in the trucking industry in 1982 while still in the military. He served in the U.S. Army for six years and hauled loads on weekends. When he was arrested, he said he’d worked for the father of the man who vouched for Cox when he was given a second chance.

After being released from prison, he sought to help others who wanted to improve their lives. Cox aims to help people change, improve and become productive in their communities. He encouraged others to support those recently released from prison. He also said he helps homeless veterans. Over the past year, the nonprofit has helped 13 people: nine men and four women.

CHANGING LIVES
Ricky Hernandez of Siloam Springs was the first person the nonprofit supported. He sought Cox’s help after being turned away from an area trucking company because of his background. He said his wife, Natasha, learned about JLC Second Chance Trucking, and he met Cox at his office.

Cox said he did everything he said he would do. After receiving a grant, Hernandez graduated from Cops CDL Academy in Van Buren and started as a truck driver for Coca-Cola in August 2024. The Hernandez family has a baby girl on the way. She’s expected to be born in August.

“I am so proud of him,” Cox said. “It’s changed his and his family’s life, and he is now empowered in the community. He’s doing good in the community. They’re bringing a new child into the world. That makes everything worth it.”

Bubba Bailey, co-owner at Cops CDL Academy, said the nonprofit has sent three students, including Ricky Hernandez, who’ve graduated from the school. Bailey connected with Cox about one year ago and hopes to receive more referrals from the nonprofit. Since Jan. 1, about 50 people with felony backgrounds have graduated from the school. The school works closely with the federal and state parole boards and adult education programs.

“We have several companies that come to our place recruiting,” Bailey said. “One is Aviagen. It’s a poultry place, and they raise baby chicks. They send several trucks a week to Canada with baby chicks. Those guys make real good money.”

He said the drivers are paid by the hour from the time they get into the truck until they return. A team of drivers leaves for Canada on Monday morning and returns at noon Friday. They earn about $4,000 weekly.

The cost to attend the school is $5,800, and it has six trucks and five instructors. Bailey said the school has multiple funding sources for those whom Cox’s nonprofit refers, including federal, state and area programs. But a recent concern is the money has been cut for almost every agency. However, tribal money remains available.

Bailey said the school has been successful in finding jobs for those with felony backgrounds. Some parole officers won’t allow certain parolees to leave the area, but more job openings have recently been for regional truck drivers rather than over-the-road drivers.

“Jerry’s done a great job,” Bailey said. “He’s working hard. We’re hoping to work with him even more and help get him some more folks coming through his program because … he thrives when he’s got ones to help along. Ricky is a prime example.”

Madison Barr, marketing director for Malvern-based trucking company JM Bozeman Enterprises, said JLC Second Chance Trucking has sent five candidates who’ve become over-the-road drivers for the company.

A relationship between the nonprofit and JM Bozeman Enterprises was established after Cox helped a man fired by another trucking company for which he’d worked. Cox encouraged him to apply for JM Bozeman Enterprises, recalling the positive feedback he’d heard about the company during his driving career.

Barr said Cox has a “great relationship with us and the two recruiters. … Another thing that we appreciate is that he won’t send us someone just to send us someone. He knows our hiring requirements, so he’ll vet the driver before even sending them to us. So he’ll know if they’re a good fit or not.”

She said the drivers the nonprofit has sent to the company fit in well with the others.

“I know they’re grateful to have a second chance, and we have zero complaints,” Barr said. “Everyone he’s sent us has been great so far.”

Barr said the nonprofit is faith-based and in Arkansas, and that Cox is a truck driver, which are important to JM Bozeman Enterprises. Cox said he’s working with three other trucking companies that will hire driving school graduates.

KEY SUPPORT
Cox said some of his biggest supporters include Rep. Randy Torres, R-Siloam Springs, and Scott McLean, founder and executive director of Pathway To Freedom Inc.

He said Torres has always made time for him and helped to connect him with people. He also provided guidance on achieving his goals and the time it would take to do so.
He said McLean’s nonprofit teaches life skills to people in prison, such as how to open a bank account. The program is part of a person’s parole, and the nonprofit works with people after they are released from prison and helps to keep them from going back.

Cox said he received grants from Walmart to help people obtain permits, and McLean is assisting him with additional grants. McLean has also taught Cox about running a nonprofit. He invited Cox as his guest at a Little Rock fundraiser, where McLean introduced Cox to Gov. Sarah Sanders, her husband, Bryan, and her father, former Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Cox said Huckabee encouraged him to build a solid foundation for his nonprofit and said the support will come after he does so.

“My whole mission, my whole purpose is for people like Ricky,” Cox said. “At the end of the day, it’s about putting families back together and giving that family an opportunity to be a contributing member of the community.”

GOALS, CHALLENGES
Cox said one of the biggest challenges he’ll focus on over the next three to five years is finding housing for the people he’s helping. He said when people are released from prison, the biggest issue is finding a place to live.

“That’s the part I’m working on vigorously now is trying to find housing and a place that will be easy for the guys once they get out,” he said. “If we have the housing in place, it’ll be a lot easier for them to complete the school. After they get out of the school, we have the place to put them to work.”

Another goal is he plans to start working with those in rehabilitation centers, such as women who’ve faced domestic abuse. As part of this, he plans to add new staff in the coming months. Cox will hire a woman to help speak to the women going through rehab. He said she and her husband were once recovering from addictions and have since changed their lives. She’ll also help with marketing. Cox said he also plans to work with a counselor to help those recently released from prison.