$1 Million in Commercial Vehicle Driver Training Grants Offered
Seven community and technical colleges and two state government training facilities recently received a share of $1 million in Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration grants to enhance behind-the-wheel safety training courses for students enrolled in commercial driver’s license (CDL) training programs, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced.
“Our roads and highways are safer when we have highly-trained drivers behind the wheels of large commercial trucks and buses,” LaHood said. “Expanding the ranks of safety-conscious commercial drivers is critical to improving road safety and saving lives.”
“We depend on professional truck and bus drivers to safely move our economy,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “This grant program makes an investment in our workforce, while ensuring that new commercial drivers are well-trained and focused on safety.”
The goals of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Training Grant Program are to make the roadways safer by increasing the number of CDL holders with enhanced safety training. In addition, the program seeks to assist economically-distressed regions of the United States by providing workforce training opportunities for qualified individuals to become commercial motor vehicle operators.
Those eligible for the grant program include accredited public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American Tribal Governments, and city, county and state governments.
To apply for the fiscal year 2011 CMV Operator Training Grant Program, visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov.