WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced more than $118 million in federal grants aimed at tightening commercial vehicle enforcement, hardening the nation’s driver licensing system, and expanding safety-focused training for military veterans entering the trucking industry.
The funding, administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, sends resources to state and local partners to curb crashes through data-driven enforcement while strengthening oversight of the Commercial Driver’s License system to ensure only qualified drivers are on the road.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, our department’s number one mission is to ensure that every American gets home safely,” Duffy said. He said the grants support aggressive enforcement, modern technology to identify unsafe vehicles and drivers, and targeted support for veterans seeking trucking careers.
FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs said the investments focus on practical tools that raise safety standards nationwide. He cited smart technologies to flag noncompliant vehicles, audits to prevent licensing fraud, and training to keep unqualified drivers from obtaining or retaining CDLs.
The awards are distributed across three competitive FMCSA grant programs.
The largest share, $71.6 million, goes to High Priority grants, including High Priority–Commercial Motor Vehicle and High Priority–Innovative Technology Deployment awards. Those funds support state and local enforcement efforts to reduce crashes involving commercial vehicles, improve safety data, run public awareness campaigns, conduct high-visibility enforcement on high-risk corridors, improve the safe movement of hazardous materials, and deploy new compliance technologies.
Another $43.8 million is dedicated to Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation grants. The funding helps states comply with federal requirements and fortify the CDL issuance process against fraud, while improving training, compliance oversight, and the timely processing of convictions between courts and state systems.
An additional $3.4 million will be awarded through the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training program, which provides high-quality, safety-centered commercial driver training for current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including National Guard members and reservists, as well as their families.
Federal officials said the combined investments reflect a push to reduce crashes, protect the integrity of the nation’s trucking workforce, and expand pathways for veterans to transition into civilian driving careers without compromising safety.
The Department of Transportation said grant recipients will use the funds to expand enforcement capacity, modernize systems, and deliver training intended to produce safer drivers and safer roads nationwide.
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