WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger and Andy Harris (all Md.) announced $344,960 to help enroll at least 62 new students, primarily veterans and their family members, in Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) programs at the Community College of Baltimore County and Wor-Wic Community College. These programs provide quality safety training for students working to earn their Commercial Driver’s License and guaranteed job placements in transportation companies across Maryland upon completion.

“Connecting Maryland veterans with the right training for available jobs is one of our highest priorities,” said Senator Cardin. “This latest federal funding works to counter our current trucking worker shortages by providing veterans the opportunity to update their skills to comply with the latest CDL safety guidelines. It’s a win for Maryland veterans and their families, local transportation companies and for our local economy.”

“We need to ensure that those who have served in our military have access to economic opportunities when they hang up their uniforms. Having visited the CCBC Dundalk Campus and toured their Transportation Training Center, I’ve seen firsthand how these job training programs open doors of opportunity for veterans and their families while keeping our economy moving, strengthening our supply chains, and improving road safety,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies. “I will keep working in the Senate to invest in workforce development to grow our skilled workforce and bring more job opportunities to the people of our state.” 

“The trucking industry is facing a worsening workforce shortage and these funds will enable our local colleges to meet the challenge head-on,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “All of the students who benefit from these federal funds will graduate ready for careers they can be proud of, earning livable wages and contributing to our regional economy.”

“I am pleased that the Department of Transportation has granted this Federal funding to support the Commercial Driver’s License Programs at the Community Colleges of Wor-Wic and Baltimore County. These awards not only support the local economy, but they also focus on enrolling veterans and their families. CDL drivers are critical in getting supplies across our Nation and this investment in training is essential for both the safety of the vehicle driver as well as all road travelers,” said Congressman Harris.

The award includes:

• $197,410 to the Community College of Baltimore County to help enroll 38 students
• $147,550 to the Wor-Wic Community College to help enroll at least 24 students

Senators Cardin and Van Hollen and Congressman Ruppersberger previously announced more than $120,000 in federal funding to expand the Community College of Baltimore County’s Transportation Training Center program from 18 students to 28 students.

These Department of Transportation funds through the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) Grant Program seek to expand the number of CDL holders to help reduce the severity and number of crashes on U.S. roads involving commercial motor vehicles and to assist current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses to receive training to transition to the CMV operation industry.