Commercial Driver License State Programs (20.232)

Program

20.232 Commercial Driver License State Programs

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Transportation
Office: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

Authorization

of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, Public Law 109-59; Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act 1999, Public Law 106-159, 49 U.S.C 103.

Program Number

20.232

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To help or prevent truck and bus accidents, fatalities, and injuries by requiring drivers to have a single commercial motor vehicle license and by disqualifying drivers who operate commercial motor vehicles in an unsafe manner.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

A State may use grants only for expenses directly related to its compliance with section 31311 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU - Public Law 109-59); except that a State that is making good faith efforts toward substantial compliance with the requirements of 31311 and 31313 of SAFETEA-LU may use grants to improve implementation of the State's commercial driver's license program, including expenses for computer hardware and software, publications, testing, personnel, training, fraud prevention, and quality control. The grant may not be used to rent, lease, or buy land or buildings. The grant may not be used to rent, lease, or buy land or buildings.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Only those agencies in each State or the District of Columbia that is designated as the primary driver licensing agency responsible for the administration of the CDL program may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

States may receive grant funds to comply with the requirements of section 31311 of SAFETEA-LU or if making good faith efforts toward substantial compliance with the requirements of section 31311 and 31313 receive grant funds to improve implementation of the commercial driver's license program.

Credentials/Documentation

Certification by the State that it meets the conditions for grant approval. States must submit a self assessment of their CDL program and agree to maintain CDL program expenditures at a level at least equal to the average of the past two State fiscal years that ended prior to August 10, 2005. The State is also required to submit a self-assessment of its CDL program that addresses and supports the specific requests indicated in their application for a grant. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Detailed application instructions and forms are available on Grants.gov. Applications must be submitted using Grants.gov after approval by the State's FMCSA Division Office.

Award Procedure

The amount of the CDL grant to a qualifying State will be determined by the CDL Division based on the documented needs of the State and the availability of funds. The Federal Register Notice will outline the current year's priorities. All proposals will be evaluated by a panel to determine which proposals have the greatest impact on the effectiveness of the CDL program in improving highway safety and reducing commercial motor vehicle related fatalities. States will be required to sign a grant agreement.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals

From 60 to 90 days. States will be notified of a denial of funding of their grant application. If denied funding, a State may revise and resubmit their application within 30 days. FMCSA will consider their revised application and may award a grant based on remaining funds at that time of consideration. This is a dicreationary grant program. There is no formal appeals process.

Renewals

From 60 to 90 days. A new grant application must be made whenever a new Federal Register Notice is published.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

This program has no matching requirements.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are available for up to one year. Obligations to a state remain available until expended. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Financial status reports (SF-269) must be submitted quarterly to the FMCSA Division office. Project activity reports (SF-269) must be submitted quarterly to the FMCSA Division office. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with OMB Circular A-133, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular A-133.

Records

Records of all program activities covered in the grant proposal. Such records must be kept for three years following the end of the grant project period.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In fiscal year 2003, the program supported six States in connecting to the Social Security Administration's (SSA)on-line and batch verification system. Currently 42 States are using the SSA on-line and batch verification system. With States instituting this check they were able to eliminate one potential means of fraudulently obtaining a Commercial Drivers License. As of fiscal year 2007, the program has helped jurisdictions meet substantial compliance with the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-8158-0-7-401.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $25,000,000; FY 09 est $25,000,000; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Fiscal Year 2008 award range: $46,775 - $1,604,089; award median: $409,971.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

49 CFR 1.48; 49 CFR 386-399; 49 CFR 100-180.

Related Programs

20.238 Commercial Drivers License Information System

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. State-level office of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Office of Safety Programs, CDL Division 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington , District of Columbia 20590 Phone: Office of Safety Programs, CDL.

Web Site Address

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Social Security online verification; covert and overt monitoring operations for third party testers and State examiners; automated knowledge tests; conviction automation projects; examiner and third party tester education and training . Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The set of criteria for evaluating proposals is outlined in the Federal Register notice.