Commercial Drivers License Fund and Grant

Commercial Drivers License information for students

The state of Washington is committed to bolstering workforce development in key industries such as trucking, trucking-related supply chains, and school bus driving. To support this initiative, two dedicated funds have been established: the Commercial Drivers License and Related Instructional Program Fund (CDL Fund) and the WA CDL Grant.

The CDL Fund focuses on enhancing educational and training programs at public community and technical colleges (CTCs), helping to expand opportunities for individuals pursuing careers in these essential sectors. Meanwhile, the WA CDL Grant, supported by the Washington State Legislature, targets private career schools and colleges (PCSCs) and public K-12 school districts (SDs), providing financial resources to further commercial truck driver and school bus driver training and related educational pathways. Both funds aim to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled workers, meeting the growing demands of Washington’s vital transportation and supply chain industries.

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Commercial Drivers License Fund for Public Community and Technical Colleges

This funding, Commercial Drivers License and Related Instructional Program Fund (CDL Fund), is to support investments that are necessary to promote workforce development in trucking and trucking-related supply chain industries and the school bus driving industry by expanding the availability of education and training programs that prepare workers for these industries. Proposals for this funding may support one or more of the following:

Procurement and/or upgrades of instructional equipment necessary for training purposes;
training program access to training spaces and/or locations necessary in order to expand training enrollment capacity, including expansion of training available to veterans and veteran spouses, and underserved populations to include foster care and homeless transition populations;
curriculum development and instructor training for driving, repair and service of technological advancements facing the trucking and trucking-related supply chain industries and the school bus driving industry;
tuition assistance for commercial vehicle driver training, mechanical, and support functions that support the trucking industry and the school bus driving industry; and/or
funding to increase capacity and availability of child care options for shift schedules for students enrolled in trucking and trucking-related supply chain and school bus driving education and training programs.

Who may apply

Public community and technical colleges, as defined under RCW 28B.50.030 may apply for funding.

Colleges may submit only one application as individual institutions.
Colleges may collaborate to submit a consortium application.
- If applying as part of a consortium, the application must indicate which college will be operating as the lead institution.
- Lead institutions are the responsible fiscal and reporting entity for the funded activities.
- Consortium applications must clearly demonstrate how the pooling of resources supports a common goal.
- Each letter of assurance from participating colleges should speak to the roles and responsibilities of the college within the consortium.
Colleges participating in a consortium application may also submit an individual application, provided it’s in support of an instructional program that is not represented in the consortium application.

2022-23 Program Resources and Guidelines

Commercial Driver's License (CDL) for Private Career Schools and Public K-12 School Districts

The WA CDL Grant funds will support student access to education and training programs for helping industries that employ commercial drivers and school bus drivers fill critical employment gaps.

The WA CDL Grant was established to increase workforce development in trucking and trucking-related supply chain industries and the school bus driving industry. The Washington State Legislature provided initial funding for this purpose in the 2022 Supplemental Budget. Additional funding has been appropriated for the 2023-2025 biennium. A total of $1,000,000 per year will be available for PCSC/SD contracts in FY24 and FY25. The WA CDL Grant Fund is administered by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC).

Through the WA CDL Grant, SBCTC makes student financial assistance and enrollment expansion resources available through contracts with eligible Private Career Schools and Colleges (PCSC) and Public K-12 School Districts (SDs) that are selected through a competitive application process. PCSCs and SDs are responsible for administering student financial assistance and maintaining records pertaining to the use of WA CDL Grants. The CDL Grant Fund may be used exclusively to fund financial assistance for enrolled students and for specific expenses necessary to expand CDL training capacity.

Training Provider Eligibility

Private career schools and colleges (PCSCs) that have a license in good standing, are operating in the state of Washington, and are on the state Eligible Training Provider list (ETPL), may apply for WA CDL funds. PCSCs must have a physical presence in Washington to apply for these funds.

School Districts (SDs) in the State of Washington K-12 system that have a school bus driver training program may apply for these funds.

2024-2025

Important Dates

Milestones	Key Dates (subject to change)
Application available in Online Grant Management System (OGMS)	March 28, 2024
Application Webinar (participation optional)	March 28, 2024
Application due in OGMS	April 25, 2024
Allocation begins	July 1, 2024