New Grants Available To Improve State Commercial Driver’s License Programs

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced more than $140 million in grants to states and educational institutions through the agency’s High Priority (HP) and Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grants.

“Funding through these grant programs will help advance states’ technological capabilities and improve the national commercial driver’s license (CDL) program,” according to a press release.

“Two of our Department’s top priorities are improving safety on our roadways and strengthening supply chains. These awards will help with both,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

The FMCSA grant includes:

• $88 million in High Priority (HP) grants – The High Priority (HP) grant program consists of HP-Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) grants and HP-Innovative Technology Deployment (HP-ITD) grants. HP-CMV grants are designed to provide financial assistance to support state commercial vehicle safety efforts, while HP-ITD grants provide financial assistance to advance the technological capability and promote the deployment of intelligent transportation system applications for CMV operations. A full list of this year’s HP-CMV grant recipients is available here, and a full list of this year’s HP-ITD grant recipients is available here.

• $55 million in Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grants – The CDLPI program provides financial assistance to states and other entities to improve their CDL programs by reducing wait times, ensuring conviction and disqualification data is electronically exchanged, implementing regulatory requirements, combatting human trafficking, and achieving compliance with FMCSA regulations concerning driver’s license standards and programs. Additionally, the CDLPI grant program provides financial assistance to other entities capable of executing national projects that aid states in their compliance efforts, which will improve the national CDL program. A full listing of this year’s CDLPI grant recipients is available here.

“At FMCSA, we are serious about our mission of reducing crashes and fatalities on the nation’s roadways that involve large trucks and buses,” FMCSA Deputy Administrator Vinn White said. “Together, these grants represent our commitment to investing in America and our dedication to supporting strong state and local partnerships that help ensure safe and qualified CMV drivers are on the roads.”

According to the press release: “In total, more than 50 percent of FMCSA’s annual budget provides states and local communities with funding to promote CMV safety. In addition to the grant awards just announced, FMCSA awarded nearly $3.5 million last month through its Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Grant Program to improve driver safety and create career opportunities for veterans, those in underserved communities, and others. Collectively, these programs support implementation of the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy. Read more about FMCSA’s grant programs on our website.”