U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley has announced federal grants for four community colleges across Iowa to expand their commercial driver’s license (CDL) training programs. A total of $509,775 will be granted from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to continue to promote training resources to individuals wishing to pursue a career requiring any CDL. Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny was selected to receive $127,400, and Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge was awarded $119,000. Grassley says, “Improving pathways for eligible individuals to secure commercial driver’s licenses is a simple way we can boost the economy. These resources will unlock good-paying jobs, address labor shortages in the trucking industry, and streamline supply chain operations. I’ve seen firsthand the efficacy of commercial driver’s license programs in Iowa and am confident our community colleges will use this federal investment to build on their proven successes.” Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo and Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City are the other programs receiving funding. This grant funding is just another initiative by Grassley to promote CDL programs and encourage growth in the field. In 2021, Grassley and Senator Joni Ernst spearheaded the push behind the decision from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to lower the required age from 21 to 18 to obtain a CDL.
