U.S. military veterans are some of the most qualified workers in the country. And now, veterans are receiving more support when it comes to finding careers after their service.
Earlier this month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) awarded seven technical and community colleges a combined total of $1 million in grants to train military veterans for careers as truck drivers. The grants, which also affect veterans’ families, come as part of the FMCSA’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training program, which annually awards schools with financial assistance to train veterans. And while the money also supports bus driver training programs, its expected to assist over 250 students.
What Schools Earned Truck Driver Training Grants?
Thankfully, veterans from around the country will benefit from the newly awarded grants. Each school was awarded a different amount of grant money by the FMCSA, and include:
- Rogue Community College District, Grants Pass, Oregon – $71,300
- Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa – $100,524
- Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas – $104,376
- Tidewater Community College, Norfolk, Virginia – $149,967
- Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois – $159,800
- Central Technical Center, Drumright, Oklahoma – $200,000
- The Sage Corporation, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania – $210,980
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx feels the grants are a major boost for both veterans and the trucking industry. As the Secretary said in a statement, “These men and women represent the absolute finest of our country, and with the help of programs like this, they will be prepared to be some of the safest commercial drivers on the road.”
What Are The Best Truck Driver Training Schools?
The seven schools that received grants are some of the best for truck driver training. That said, there are plenty of other great schools and programs aspiring truckers can explore. Previous recipients of the FMCSA’s military veteran training grants have included:
- West Hills Community College District, Coalinga, California
- Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, Georgia
- Cecil College, North East, Maryland
- Central Technical Center, Drumright, Oklahoma
- Lancaster County Career & Technology Center, Willow Street, Pennsylvania
- Northampton County Area Community College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Alamo Colleges/ St. Phillip’s College, San Antonio, Texas
These schools weren’t awarded grants this year, but their previous success proves they provide great trucker training programs.
Do Veterans Need To Pass DOT Drug Tests And Physicals?
Military veterans are some of our nation’s best and brightest, but they still need to comply with standard Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol tests and physical exams. The DOT’s physical exam for truckers is fairly standard, and with proper preparation military veterans should be able to pass the exam with ease. And when you decide to employ veterans as part of your fleet, Consortium Pool is here to help you comply with the DOT’s drug and alcohol test guidelines.
For more information on the DOT’s drug and alcohol testing policies and how to comply with them, be sure to visit Consortium Pool.