Briefly: Fastport reaches milestone of 27,000 registered apprentices -

Fastport recently announced the registration of its 27,000th apprentice, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to develop and promote registered apprenticeships across the nation.

Fastport has partnered with more than 300n organizations in transportation, distribution, and logistics to create and expand registered apprenticeship programs. These programs provide structured, on-the-job training and mentorship, ensuring that apprentices gain the skills and experience necessary to excel in their chosen fields, according to Fastport.

Since its beginning in January 2017, Fastport has expanded to 35 occupations in other subsectors like railroads, warehousing, and maritime.

“We are thrilled to celebrate Fastport’s exceeding 27,000 registered apprentices and acknowledge the great work of all of our great industry association partners, like the American Trucking Association, Truckload Carriers Association, The Trucking Alliance, Next Generation Trucking to name a few,” said Dave Harrison, executive director for Work Force Development, Government Programs, and Military Employment Issues at Fastport.

FMCSA announces grant opportunities

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administartion recently announced Notices of Funding Opportunity and opened the fiscal year (FY) 2025 application cycle for three discretionary grants. Grant applications are now due by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 20.

These grants, which could total more than $90 million, will fund projects that advance the development and delivery of motor carrier safety training to non-federal employees and provide commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operator training to future commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders.

FMCSA said funding opportunities are available through the following programs: 

High Priority Innovative Technology Deployment (HP-ITD) Grant Program – supports innovative and impactful projects that advance the technological capability and promote the deployment of intelligent transportation system applications for CMV operations. The grant program also aims to support/maintain CMV information systems/networks to link federal motor carrier safety information systems with state CMV systems; improve safety and productivity of CMVs and commercial drivers; increase driver notification systems (including truck parking and work zone notifications); and reduce costs associated with CMV operations and regulatory requirements. 
High Priority Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety (HP-CMV) Grant Program – funds CMV safety-related activities that increase public awareness and education on CMV safety, target unsafe driving in high-risk crash corridors, demonstrate new technologies to improve CMV safety, improve safety data, and other projects such as truck parking availability awareness and identification that help meet FMCSA’s goal of improving CMV safety nationwide. 
 
Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) Grant Program -funds organizations that train individuals in the safe use of CMVs.  The CMVOST Grant Program prioritizes training to current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including National Guard members and Reservists, as well as certain military family members.

FMCSA said it is important to note that any grant applications submitted during the application cycle previously open from Dec. 19 to Feb. 3 must be re-submitted under the new notices of opportunity.

More information about application process as well as eligible applicants and projects can be found on FMCSA’s website. 