The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently awarded community colleges and training institutes nationwide $3.1 million in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grants to assist current and former Armed Forces members obtain commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and training to enter the trucking industry.
Grants ranged from $60,600 to $200,000.
The CMVOST grant program aims to increase training opportunities for candidates in underserved communities, expand the number of CDL holders possessing enhanced operator safety training, and provide opportunities for current or former Armed Forces members and their spouses to enter trucking or bussing.
“Veterans know how to get things where they need to go safely,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “At a time when our supply chain depends on having more qualified truck drivers, this program will give those who have served in uniform a new and important way to contribute, and benefit, by launching a new career in this vital industry.”
FMCSA loosened the requirements for fiscal year 2022, allowing a broader range of institutions to apply. The agency no longer requires applicants propose a local matching share of funding.
The goal of the expansion is to allow more qualified candidates to afford training and licensing.