WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seven community and technical colleges and two state government training facilities received a share of $1 million in Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration grants to enhance behind-the-wheel safety training courses for students enrolled in commercial driver's license (CDL) training programs, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced.

"Our roads and highways are safer when we have highly-trained drivers behind the wheels of large commercial trucks and buses," said Secretary LaHood in a statement. "Expanding the ranks of safety-conscious commercial drivers is critical to improving road safety and saving lives."

"We depend on professional truck and bus drivers to safely move our economy," added FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "This grant program makes an investment in our workforce, while ensuring that new commercial drivers are well-trained and focused on safety."

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Training Grant Program aims to increase road and highway safety by increasing the number of CDL holders with enhanced safety training. The program also seeks to assist economically-distressed regions of the U. S. by providing workforce training opportunities for qualified individuals to become commercial motor vehicle operators.

Those eligible for the grant program include accredited public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American Tribal Governments, and city, county and state governments. The following institutions were awarded grants for fiscal year 2010: Arkansas State University in Newport, Ark. ($74,072); West Hills Community College in Coalinga, Calif. ($87,360); Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Ill. (59,978); Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City ($144,750); Crowder College in Neosho, Mo.  ($106,140); the North Carolina Department of Transportation ($131,967); Pennsylvania - Northampton County Area Community College in Bethlehem, Pa. ($140,000); the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board ($178,568); and Snow College in Ephraim, Utah ($77,165).

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Training Grant Program was established by Congress in 2005 through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). To apply for the fiscal year 2011 CMV Operator Training Grant Program, visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov.