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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to award $44 million in grants to improve CDL acquisition process, Department of Transportation was announced September 14.
Commercial Driver License Program Implementation grants to states and other entities operating national CDL programs are intended to expedite license issuance and renewal and ensure the sharing of driver license revocation information among states.
“With these grants, we’re helping states bring more well-trained drivers into this key sector, strengthening our supply chains for years to come,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.
The money is aimed at reducing skills testing backlogs by helping states hire more workers and fix shortages in training centers. The awards also seek to improve CDL reporting, upgrade record keeping and train CDL skill test examiners, according to the Department of Transportation.
Projects receiving funding help hire state personnel to reduce skill test delays caused by understaffing, as well as improve CDL reporting, upgrade record maintenance and train CDL skill test examiners, according to the Department Transportation.
Federal money will also go toward implementing regulatory safety requirements and developing human trafficking information and training materials for truck drivers.
Another $3 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act will be provided through Professional Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training grants to increase recipients’ ability to train new drivers.
“This substantial funding provided through the CMVOST grant program will help expand and diversify the pool of trained drivers, with a significant focus on attracting veterans and individuals from underserved and refugee communities,” said FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson.