State Opens Commercial Driver Training Grants
Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development is urging training providers to apply for grants that reimburse the cost of Commercial Driver's License training.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Jobs — General
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The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is encouraging training businesses and organizations to apply for Commercial Driver Training grants, with applications due December 9. The grant reimburses the cost of training students for a Commercial Driver's License.
Why it matters
The program aims to increase the number of Wisconsin residents holding a Commercial Driver's License and to meet demand for one of the state's most in-demand occupations. More than 500 heavy and tractor-trailer driver openings are currently posted on Job Center of Wisconsin.
Grant awards range from $10,000 to $30,000, with each trainee's cost offset by 50 percent up to a $3,000 maximum. More than 500 heavy and tractor-trailer driver openings are posted on Job Center of Wisconsin, while the number of funded trainees remains unspecified.
The players
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
The state agency that administers workforce programs, including the Commercial Driver Training grant and the Job Center of Wisconsin job board.
The details
Training businesses and organizations apply to the Office of Skills Development, which administers the grant. Applicants must be on the federal Training Provider Registry or be a third-party provider so listed, have at least one Wisconsin facility, and train Wisconsin residents to federal Entry-Level Driver Training requirements under 49 C.F.R. part 380.
Timeline
December 9, 3 p.m. — deadline to apply for the Commercial Driver Training grant.
Market Landscape
Wisconsin's grant ties state workforce funding to the federal Entry-Level Driver Training framework under 49 C.F.R. part 380, which governs how new commercial drivers must be trained. The program positions the state to fill truck-driver openings through licensed training providers rather than relying solely on employer-run programs.
Individuals interested in becoming truck drivers may be able to complete Commercial Driver's License training at reduced cost if their training provider is approved. Employers and training organizations must apply by December 9 to access the reimbursement.
The takeaway
Prospective commercial drivers should confirm that their training provider appears on the federal Training Provider Registry before enrolling. Training providers with Wisconsin facilities should review the eligibility requirements before the December 9 deadline.
Further reading
Explore more Jobs — General coverage to see how workforce programs like this one fit into the state's broader hiring picture.
More information
Read the Commercial Driver Training grant program announcement from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Antigo Daily Journal.
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