The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced grants totaling nearly $3.5 million to fund new truck driver training programs. The funds will be directed to 27 colleges and other commercial driver’s license (CDL) training programs through the agency’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) Grant Program.
A Growing Demand for Drivers
FMCSA said these grants will help improve roadway safety by providing additional training for current CDL holders and creating new pathways for career opportunities as drivers in the commercial motor vehicle industry.
“The Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in training and support for Commercial Driver’s License holders will help meet the nation’s growing demand for truck drivers and better prepare for the future,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The funding we’re announcing today is an important part of this Administration’s Trucking Action Plan to strengthen America’s supply chains and support the workers who keep our economy moving.”
The CMVOST grant program has three goals:
To expand the number of CDL holders possessing enhanced operator safety training
To provide opportunities for current or former members of the United States Armed Forces (including National Guard members and reservists) and certain family members to enter the trucking or busing industry as drivers
To help increase the training opportunities for candidates from rural, refugee, and underserved communities.
A Focus on Safe Driving
“At FMCSA, our job is all about safety – that includes safety of the roadways and safety of our nation’s commercial motor vehicle drivers,” added FMCSA Deputy Administrator Vinn White. “So, we are proud to make this funding available, and are committed to working with the awardees to put it to good use, making it easier for drivers to enter into and stay in the CMV industry.”
In total, more than 50% of FMCSA’s annual budget provides states and local communities with funding to promote CMV safety. In addition to the CMVOST grant program, FMCSA also provides funding through its other discretionary grant programs such as the High Priority Grants Program and the Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation Grant. Collectively, these programs also support implementation of the department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy.
Read more about the grant programs and find a full list of this year’s CMVOST grant recipients on the FMCSA website.
