FMCSA to Award Grants for CDL Training Programs
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is stepping up its game when it comes to getting more drivers on the road, but it does not want to sacrifice road safety to do so. To that end, the FMCSA is putting $44 million into grants for CDL training.
Details
The announcement came on September 14th, 2023. You can read it in whole on the relevant FMCSA webpage. The short of it is that over $48 million dollars in federal funding is going towards various programs to get more drivers on the road.
As mentioned briefly before, $44 million in grant money is going to states and other entities through the Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grant. It will hire trainers and other actions that will reduce the amount of waiting time a person who wants to drive will have to wait before he or she can go on the road.
The other $4 million or so goes towards the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant, which targets specific groups such as veterans and refugees to get them well-paying trucking jobs.
“This essential funding provided through the CMVOST grant program will help expand and diversify the pool of trained drivers, with an important focus on attracting Veterans and individuals from underserved and refugee communities,” Robin Hutcheson said in a statement about the CMVOST funding. “We’re proud that these grants are giving priority to current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including National Guard, Reservists, and their family members, to pursue a commercial driver’s license.”
Conclusion
The trucking industry has consistently been breaking new records in employment, or at the very least hovering near the all-time high when it does not increase, and this injection of federal funding is sure to raise that number even higher.
There are numerous effects resulting from an increase in the number of truckers on the road. One of the most positive outcomes is that, as truckers compose a larger share of the national population, their concerns are louder, such as the need for increased parking nationwide. However, it will take a few months at the very least before we see the effects of this federal funding.
ABOUT TOPMARK FUNDING
TopMark Funding is a top-rated semi-truck financing and trailer financing company located in Roseville, CA. We specialize in commercial trucking and heavy equipment. Our mission is to become your long-term financial partner by helping you grow your trucking business and fleet.
We’re not here for the short-term, we’re on the long-haul with you!
We have financing options for trailers, semi-trucks, commercial trucks, and small businesses. We have great rates, low down payments, and flexible monthly payments regardless of credit history.
Learn more about Trailer Financing.
Fill out the contact form or give us a call at (866) 627-6644. One of our truck financing specialists will contact you as soon as possible to go over your truck lease needs and learn more about you and your business financing goals.
