SUNY Canton Receives $77K Grant to Fund CDL Scholarships

New funding can reduce the rate for CDL training sessions by more than half for applicants in 2026-2027.

SUNY Canton received a U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant to help individuals start high-demand careers in the trucking industry.

The college received $77,000 34-month grant to offset the cost of its Commercial Driver License (CDL) training courses. It was awarded to the college under the SUNY Research Foundation, according to Rebecca Snyder, director of Research and Sponsored Programs.

“The CMVOST funding was awarded to the SUNY Canton Center for Workforce, Community & Industry Partnerships (WCIP) to help create new pathways to careers in trucking and increase overall road safety,” Snyder said.

The grant award will allow a total of 10 applicants each year in 2026 and 2027 to receive up to $3,850 to help offset the tuition costs for the CDL-A, CDL-B, and CDL-B to A tracks. WCIP director Elizabeth Brown noted scholarships can augment other funding sources available to students.

“This funding strengthens SUNY Canton’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality CDL trainings while directly supporting workforce needs in the north country,” Brown said. “By combining federal funding, reduced tuition, and strong employer partnerships, we’re helping more qualified drivers enter lucrative careers in transportation.”

SUNY Canton’s CDL training programs are offered on a rolling enrollment basis and are taught by Instructor Ryan Harrigan. The 8- or 10-week training consists of 10 hours of online instruction and 30-40 hours of one-on-one driving education. The programs boast a 94% graduation rate and a 96% job placement rate.

More than 128 students have participated in the training since it began in 2019. During that time, it has expanded by adding an additional truck, sessions for manual and automatic transmission driving, Hazardous Materials Endorsement training (discounted for CDL program participants), and reduced the tuition cost for CDL A training from $7,000 to $6,000 to increase accessibility for students.

“We now offer an ‘employer-funded student’ option which consists of a shared training model between SUNY Canton and the employer with a reduced program tuition cost,” Brown added.

Interested employers should contact the WCIP directly at wcip@canton.edu to learn more and apply.

All prospective drivers need only apply for the program via the WCIP CDL Commercial Truck Driver Training webpage and, once approved, can apply for this newly available funding. Spots and scholarship availability are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.