Federal agencies Bus/limo/taxi Trucking Transportation

FMCSA awards $73M in grants to boost CMV industry, safety

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Photo: vitpho/iStockphoto

Washington – New grants from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are intended to increase commercial motor vehicle driver’s license standards and compliance, veterans’ operator training, and motor vehicle safety enhancements.

FMCSA announced on Sept. 26 that it has awarded more than $73 million to states and educational institutions, broken down in three major groups:

  • $41.5 million in high-priority grants aimed at improving safety in CMVs and promoting technological advancements.
  • $30.7 million toward helping states keep up with FMCSA standards on CDL programs. The national license program requires states to test for knowledge and skills before issuing licenses, keep an accurate history of any licensed driver and disqualify drivers who violate specific rules. Part of the grant also goes to third parties that help states achieve licensing goals.
  • $1 million divided among nine educational institutions to fund programs to train veterans for a career in commercial vehicle operation.

“Safe drivers lead to safer roadways, and safer roadways ensure that our loved ones return home at the end of their journey,” FMCSA Deputy Administrator Daphne Jefferson said. “These grants will help ensure that our state partners have the tools and resources they need to support FMCSA’s mission of reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.”

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Dan
October 26, 2017
•$1 million divided among nine educational institutions to fund programs to train veterans for a career in commercial vehicle operation. Many returning Vet's have driven CDL vehicles while in the military and are highly qualified to drive CDL vehicles. One of the biggest hurdles for these experienced drivers it to pass the vehicle inspection portion of the road test. At one time they were given a list of the items they were required to identify and point out what they were inspecting for, the form was called a memory aid. Now the CDL training manuals simply show a picture of a truck tracker/trailer and a school bus and expect a person to remember the 150 plus items they are required to identify. Even truck driving schools complain they are spending more time on memorization for the vehicle inspection and less time on driving safety. It's as though the Fed's or the States set them up to fail the road tests.