The following entities are eligible for the CDL Grant:

The governmental organization in each State and the District of Columbia designated as the primary (lead) driver licensing agency responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the CDL program. This is the agency that issues CDLs and maintains driver history records. In certain States there is a separate agency responsible for conducting CDL testing and overseeing third party examiners. The FMCSA accepts applications from these agencies, but coordination with the lead agency is required.

Any other organization proposing research, development, demonstration projects, public education, and other special activities and projects relating to commercial driver licensing and commercial motor vehicle safety that are of benefit to all jurisdictions of the United States or are designed to address national safety concerns and circumstances.