FMCSA giving $1M to train military veterans for driving jobs

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Updated Dec 2, 2014

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Oct. 21 it has awarded $1 million in grants to nine tech and community colleges across the U.S. to help train military veterans for truck and bus driving jobs.

“Those that we entrust to protect and serve our nation deserve opportunities that utilize the skills and training they received on the job on military bases overseas and at home,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “We can think of none more appropriate to safeguard our highways as commercial vehicle drivers than the thousands of veterans who have already proven they can safely handle large vehicles under extremely stressful circumstances.”

FMCSA says the funds will be used to recruit, train and provide job placement assistance after graduation.

The grant will be enough to provide training for about 400 students, FMCSA says.

The following schools received grant money:

  • Florida – South Florida State College, Avon Park, Fla., $58,003
  • Illinois – Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill., $165,800
  • Minnesota – Century College in White Bear Lake, Minn., $91,080
  • Missouri – Crowder College, Neosho, Mo., $72,160
  • Nebraska – Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, Ne., $47,614
  • Pennsylvania – Northampton County Area Community College, Bethlehem, Pa., $134,400
  • Pennsylvania – The Sage Corporation, Camp Hill, Pa., $249,968
  • Texas – Lone Star College-North Harris, Houston, Texas, $73,704
  • Virginia – Tidewater Community College, Norfolk, Va., $107,271

FMCSA announced in June an expansion of its Military Skills Test Waiver, allowing all 50 states and D.C. to waive the skills test portion of CDL applications for veterans who have at least two years of safe driving experience operating a military truck or bus.

The agency made a similar grant last year, allotting $1 million to six driving schools in the U.S. to train former military members to become drivers.