SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. — Jerry L Cox is retiring his truck driving days on the highway but is still helping drive the formerly incarcerated into the industry.
Cox started the nonprofit JLC Second Chance Trucking in Siloam Springs, to help provide opportunities for convicted felons as they re-enter society. He is partnering with multiple other organizations to provide licenses and eventually jobs in the trucking industry.
Cox's inspiration to start the nonprofit comes from his family. Born into an abusive home, Cox started his life with a beginning that he says would've made him another statistic.
"If you really look back at what I've gone through in my life, for me to sit here and talk to you and do this interview. You wouldn't believe it. Because sometimes I don't," Cox said.
Cox says his adoptive family would become his guiding light.
"That was the greatest gift God gave me when he put them in my life," Cox said.
Cox left a successful athletic career in high school as a senior to enter the military. He said he thought the Army would help solve his issues, but instead left him with more issues after the Korean war. Coming back to his family, the lessons they taught him would help him lead a successful 40 years as a truck driver.
Cox said what prompted the creation of his nonprofit was his family, specifically his son. His son was arrested in Tyler, Texas after committing a robbery.
"It took me back to when I was incarcerated. And I knew what I went through. And even though I was an innocent person, like I said, the outside world, they didn't care," Cox said.
Cox states that he was wrongfully convicted yet still served time until his case was thrown out. Trying to re-enter the trucking industry, his checking of the felon box would turn him away from many jobs until someone gave him a chance at Dee King.
Although Cox's son is only three years into a 25-year sentence, he said he didn't want his son to experience the issues he went through, so he created the nonprofit.
"What my company is all about, is showing them that they are somebody, you can be anybody you want to be as long as you believe in yourself," Cox said.
As an Army vet, Cox says he'll help homeless veterans as well. He holds a goal to have 5 to 10 trucks on his own by the end of the year. He's already partnered with multiple other organizations which he says will help him exceed that goal.
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