FMCSA Awards $1 Million in CDL Education Grants

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said Monday it has awarded a total $1 million in grants to nine technical and community colleges to enhance safety curricula and behind-the-wheel training courses for students enrolled in commercial driver’s license training programs.

“Our nation relies on a workforce of well-trained, safety-conscious, professional truck and bus drivers to move our economy,” said FMCSA Administrator John Hill. “Through this grant program, we are helping provide the cadre of highly qualified commercial drivers that our nation needs. This is also an investment in individuals and in communities seeking enriched economic opportunities for the future.”

Eligible entities for the annually-awarded commercial motor vehicle grants include accredited public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American Tribal Governments, and city, county and state governments.

FMCSA said an announcement regarding application procedures for fiscal year 2009 grants will be posted in late summer 2008 at www.grants.gov.

The following institutions were awarded grants for fiscal year 2008:

• Arizona: Maricopa Community College, Glendale ($52,663);

• Arkansas: Arkansas State University, Newport ($87,500);

• California: West Hills Community College, Coalinga ($80,640);

• Illinois: Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove ($49,855);

• Missouri: Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield ($198,087);

• New York: National Tractor Trailer School, Inc. Liverpool ($120,000);

• Ohio: Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland ($83,300);

• Pennsylvania: Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville ($127,955); and

• South Carolina: Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, Orangeburg ($200,000).