FY 2026 Commercial Motor Vehicle High Priority Enforcement Training and Support Grant Program (HP-ETS)

The Commercial Motor Vehicle High Priority Enforcement Training and Support Grant Program (HP-ETS) is administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation. FMCSA plays a central role in regulating and improving the safety of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) throughout the United States. This grant program reflects FMCSA’s commitment to fostering education, training, and operational excellence among those tasked with enforcing safety standards on the nation’s roadways. The primary goal of the HP-ETS program is to support the training of non-federal personnel who conduct enforcement activities related to commercial vehicle safety. These personnel must perform their duties in accordance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Out-of-Service criteria. Additionally, the program aims to support the creation and dissemination of educational materials that promote awareness and understanding of CMV safety. These dual objectives—training and education—form the backbone of FMCSA’s strategy to reduce CMV-related crashes and fatalities. Under this funding opportunity, cooperative agreements will be used to support eligible entities in achieving the above objectives. While the total estimated funding available is $10 million, only three awards are expected, suggesting that the grant will fund a small number of high-impact projects. The maximum award amount per recipient is $10 million. However, the funding floor is listed as zero, which likely represents a placeholder or incomplete field, and should be interpreted as missing data. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants, lowering the barrier to entry for nonprofit organizations interested in participating. Eligibility is open to two types of nonprofit entities: those with 501(c)(3) status under the IRS code (excluding institutions of higher education) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also excluding institutions of higher education). This indicates an intention to support a broad range of civil society organizations involved in transportation safety training, excluding educational institutions which may fall under separate FMCSA programs. The program is not limited by geography, which means applicants from across the U.S. are eligible to apply. The application process is managed through Grants.gov. The application window opened on March 26, 2026, and will close on April 24, 2026. There are no references to required Letters of Intent, concept papers, or other gating steps. Submissions must be completed electronically, and applicants encountering technical issues can contact the Grants.gov support center, which operates 24/7 except on federal holidays. No specific evaluation criteria are listed, and no application materials or forms are explicitly mentioned in the announcement summary. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals as soon as possible, given the tight timeline. As the program does not mention recurrence, and no previous cycles are referenced, it is assumed this is a one-time funding round. Award announcements are not dated, and the performance period is not defined, which leaves several operational details to be clarified upon award notification or in the full NOFO document.