The investment will also help veterans transition into the trucking workforce
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced more than $118 million in grant awards to strengthen the safety of America’s roadways, enhance commercial vehicle enforcement, and provide high-quality training for military veterans entering the trucking industry.
These Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) grants direct critical resources to state and local partners to reduce crashes through data-driven enforcement. The investments also bolster the integrity of the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) system to ensure only qualified drivers are getting behind the wheel, while supporting veterans transitioning into the trucking industry with the highest quality training.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, our department’s number one mission is to ensure that every American gets home safely,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We’re backing aggressive enforcement and empowering states to keep unqualified, unvetted drivers off the road, investing in state-of-the-art technology to make our roads safer, and taking care of veterans interested in a career in trucking.”
“These grants are about giving our partners the tools they need to be effective,” said Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Derek D. Barrs. “Whether it’s deploying smart technology to identify unsafe vehicles, auditing CDL programs to prevent fraud, every dollar is focused on raising the bar for safety and ensuring only qualified drivers and compliant vehicles are on our roads.”
Additional Information:
Funding is being awarded through FMCSA’s three key competitive grant programs:
- $71.6 million in High Priority (HP) grants – HP-Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) and HP-Innovative Technology Deployment (HP-ITD) grants support state and local enforcement efforts to reduce CMV-related crashes, safety data improvement projects, public awareness campaigns and high-visibility enforcement efforts targeting unsafe driving on high-risk CMV crash corridors, initiatives to improve the safe and secure movement of hazardous material, and the deployment of new technology to ensure CMV compliance with safety regulations.
- $43.8 million in Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grants – These grants help states comply with federal regulations and ensure the CDL issuance process is secure, accurate, and resistant to fraud. CDLPI grants also ensure that only qualified drivers are eligible to receive and retain a CDL. At both the national and state levels, agencies responsible for any component of the CDL program can use funding to strengthen compliance oversight, provide training to prevent the masking of driving violations, and implement solutions that improve the timeliness of conviction processing between courts and state systems.
- $3.4 million in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grants – This program is dedicated to supporting current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including National Guard and reservists, and their families by providing them with high-quality, safety-focused commercial driver training.
FMCSA’s primary mission is to prevent crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving large trucks and buses. FMCSA develops safety and regulatory standards for commercial driver’s licenses; analyzes data and sponsors research; and conducts enforcement and education. FMCSA partners with nonprofit organizations, local and State governments, and other stakeholders to support innovative commercial driver training, safety inspections, and enhanced compliance and enforcement initiatives. In addition, FMCSA provides education on household goods consumer protection and conducts enforcement to protect consumers.
McCraren Compliance offers comprehensive safety training to help prevent accidents. Visit our class calendar to see how our training and consulting services can enhance your safety efforts.
Original article published by FMCSA