The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an agency in the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), recently announced the awarding of grants to states and educational institutions totaling $77.3 million in order to improve commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety (U.S. Department of Transportation Awards Over $77 Million in Grants to Improve Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety).
The grants are intended to fulfill FMCSA‘s primary mission of reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. “Safety is the Department’s top priority and these grants will further assist state and local officials in their efforts to prevent commercial motor vehicle crashes,” United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao said.
FMCSA’s announcement included the following grants:
- High Priority (HP) grants to strengthen states’ CMV safety efforts and technological capability – $43.3 million
- Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grants to augment efforts by states to enhance the national commercial driver’s license (CDL) program – $32 million
- Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training grants to educational institutions to assist in the training of veterans as commercial bus and truck drivers – $2 million
“FMCSA is committed to working with all of its state and local partners to reduce crashes and improve safety on America’s roadways,” FMCSA Administrator Raymond P. Martinez said. “These important grants demonstrate the agency’s commitment to providing local areas with the resources they need to make a difference for commercial motor vehicle safety.”
The High Priority program includes CMV grants and Innovative Technology Deployment (ITD) grants. CMV grants provide capital for state CMV safety efforts, while ITD grants offer funds for technological advancements and the development of intelligent CMV transportation systems.
The CDLPI program helps states comply with FMCSA driver’s license regulations and assists other entities with their efforts to improve the national CDL program. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training program awards grants to educational institutions, such as public or private colleges, universities, and vocational schools, for commercial truck and bus driving training.
As the chief government agency responsible for regulating the operation of CMVs, FMCSA is doing its part to minimize the dangers posed by large trucks and buses. Unfortunately, FMCSA’s oversight role will always be necessary as long as the trucking industry continues to prioritize profits over safety.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a large truck or bus, please contact Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman for a free consultation. We will only receive a fee in the event of a successful resolution of your case.
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