FMCSA Awards Nearly $80 Million in Grants

The United States government operates as an agreement between 50 individual states, as well as the country as a whole, called the federal level. The states help the federal, and the federal helps the states, whenever assistance is needed.

On Wednesday, August 19th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that it would be using its powers to help states and other organizations by providing money that would improve commercial vehicle safety.

“These awards of nearly $80 million represent the highest funding level for these critical safety grants to enhance commercial motor vehicle and road safety,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

Where the Money Goes

In total, the FMCSA is handing out $79.86 million in grants. This spending includes:

• $45,163,660 to High Priority (HP) grants.
• $32,702,000 in Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grants.
• $1,994,541 in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grants.

HP grants provide money to state commercial vehicle safety efforts, such as state DOT inspections and enforcement. They also help states implement technology to better improve the state’s transportation system for better CMV operations in its borders. States and territories receiving this funding include Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. The FMCSA has full allocation spending for HP grants posted on its website.

The CDLPI grant program helps states comply with FMCSA’s standards and regulations regarding driver’s licenses. Recipients include Departments of Motor Vehicles, state Supreme Courts, and state governments themselves. They also include non-profits that help further this cause such as the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (which will be conducting the International Roadcheck in September). The FMCSA has full allocation spending for CDLPI grants posted on its website.

Finally, the CMVOST grant program awards money to various educational institutions that provide commercial truck and bus driving training. These schools are often public and non-profit. In some cases awards can possibly go to private and even for-profit educational organizations, albeit rarely. The FMCSA has full allocation spending for CMVOST grants posted on its website.

Conclusion

The FMCSA serves many functions. Not only does it provide rules and regulations for CMV operations, but it is also a lead funder of smaller entities that serve a similar purpose. In fact, according to their numbers, almost 60 percent of all FMCSA funding passes through to states and local communities through grant funding. The rest is spent on federal affairs.

Hopefully this almost $80 million in spending will fulfill its purpose of making roads safer for everyone.