Washington, D.C. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced the availability of more than $180 million in grant funding to boost safety for trucks and buses nationwide.
The money comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is earmarked for state, territorial, tribal, local, academic and training entities that can demonstrate projects that lower crash risk, improve driver training and modernize fleet technology. For an industry that logs roughly 3.2 billion miles each year, the infusion targets the high‑cost, high‑risk segments that dominate FMCSA’s safety agenda.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that better technology, training and tools protect every truck and bus driver on the road. Acting FMCSA deputy administrator Sue Lawless added that the agency cannot meet its safety mission alone, and that grant partners will help cut large‑vehicle crashes. The program splits into five discretionary tracks: the High Priority Innovative Technology Deployment Grant supports intelligent‑transportation‑system tools such as real‑time truck‑parking information; the High Priority Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Grant funds public‑awareness campaigns and pilot projects in high‑risk crash corridors; the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Grant expands access to training for veterans, military families, underserved and refugee communities; the Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation Grant enforces a “One Driver — One License — One Record” system to eliminate duplicate records; and the High Priority Enforcement Training and Support Grant finances safety‑regulation training for non‑federal enforcement staff.
What This Means for Drivers
CDL‑A drivers will see new technology rollouts that alert them to available parking, reducing fatigue‑related incidents on congested routes. Owner‑operators stand to benefit from lower operating costs as grant‑funded systems streamline compliance reporting and route planning. Training grants will open free or low‑cost courses for OTR truck drivers seeking to upgrade skills or transition from military service, directly addressing the driver shortage highlighted in recent industry surveys. The “One Driver — One License — One Record” initiative will simplify background checks, making it easier for drivers to move between carriers without redundant paperwork.
Industry Reaction
Major carriers and trucking associations have welcomed the funding, noting that the grants align with long‑standing calls for federal support of safety innovation. A spokesperson for the American Trucking Associations said the program could accelerate adoption of telematics and electronic logging devices that already prove effective in reducing violations. Safety advocacy groups praised the focus on high‑risk corridors, arguing that targeted education and technology can shrink the crash rate that has hovered above 4 per 100 million vehicle miles for commercial trucks.
Key Points
- More than $180 million in grants now open for eligible safety projects.
- Five distinct programs address technology, training, enforcement and licensing.
- Veterans, military families, underserved and refugee communities receive priority for operator‑training funds.
- The “One Driver — One License — One Record” system aims to eliminate duplicate CDL records nationwide.
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