FY2026 High Priority Program-Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV)

The High Priority Commercial Motor Vehicle Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This program is designed to enhance the safety of commercial motor vehicle operations across the United States by funding projects that reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. The program operates under federal statutes and regulations, including provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and is part of a broader federal effort to improve roadway safety, data systems, and enforcement practices. The primary purpose of the program is to support innovative, data-driven, and impactful initiatives that address key national priorities in commercial motor vehicle safety. These priorities include enforcement and compliance with safety regulations, deployment of safety technologies, public education campaigns, data quality improvements, and participation in federal systems such as the Performance and Registration Information Systems Management program. Projects may also focus on hazardous materials transportation safety, rural road safety, passenger carrier safety, and human trafficking detection related to commercial transportation environments. Funding under this opportunity is provided through a competitive grant or cooperative agreement process, with approximately $56.5 million expected to be awarded in fiscal year 2026. Individual applications may request up to $2 million, although higher amounts may be considered for projects demonstrating significant national impact. Funds are reimbursable, meaning recipients must incur allowable costs before requesting reimbursement. Eligible uses of funds include personnel, equipment, training, travel, technology deployment, enforcement activities, research, and outreach initiatives. All expenditures must be necessary, reasonable, and aligned with federal cost principles. Eligibility for this program is broad and inclusive of public and nonprofit entities. Eligible applicants include state government agencies, local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. For-profit organizations and individuals are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to carry out proposed activities, comply with federal reporting requirements, and align projects with national safety priorities. Certain project types may have additional eligibility considerations depending on the specific priority area. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components. Applicants must complete standard federal forms such as the SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a detailed project narrative and budget narrative. The project narrative must include sections such as an introduction, problem statement, performance objectives, activity plan, measurement plan, and monitoring strategy. Applications are limited to 35 pages for the narrative and may include up to four distinct projects. Applicants must also maintain an active registration in the System for Award Management and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier. Applications are evaluated through a multi-stage review process that includes eligibility screening, technical merit review, budget analysis, and programmatic evaluation. Review criteria emphasize data-driven problem identification, alignment with national priorities, measurable performance outcomes, and the feasibility of the proposed approach. Past performance may also be considered for applicants with prior federal funding. Final award decisions are made by the FMCSA Administrator based on recommendations from technical and program review teams. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is June 17, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to avoid technical issues. Awards are expected to be announced after the review process, with potential applicant contact occurring in Spring 2026 for clarifications. The period of performance typically spans two years, with possible extensions depending on project needs. This program is issued annually, making it a recurring funding opportunity for organizations engaged in commercial motor vehicle safety initiatives.

Use strong data-driven justification; align with national safety priorities; include measurable performance metrics; clearly define project outcomes and monitoring plans