MMTA J.A.T.F Grant

MMTA J. A. T.

F Grant is sponsored by Maine Motor Transport Association (John Austin Trucking Foundation). This grant provides financial assistance for CDL or trucking-related training to individuals who live and/or work in Maine.

JOHN AUSTIN TRUCKING FOUNDATION - MMTA CLICK HERE FOR A 5-MIN VIDEO EXPLAINING THE FOUNDATION OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM: The Maine Motor Transport Association is the state’s trucking trade association and one of our main objectives is to identify and execute ways to help our members.

One of the biggest challenges our members face is to find and retain a qualified, talented and professional workforce, which is why we have formed the JOHN AUSTIN TRUCKING FOUNDATION . The whole idea of the JOHN AUSTIN TRUCKING FOUNDATION is to offer meaningful financial help to those in the trucking industry looking to get ahead, or those outside of the industry wanting to find a rewarding career in trucking.

We want to help take away some of the financial disincentive for you to work in trucking and, in return, we hope you will feel supported and grateful for the investment trucking has made in you. It’s a win-win: we help you get the skills/training you need and you work for a Maine employer directly connected to the trucking industry.

Awards granted by the JOHN AUSTIN TRUCKING FOUNDATION are considered gifts – not a loan – that you do not have to pay back . Which is why we want to be up-front with the guidelines and processes that must be followed to ensure fairness, impartiality, and compliance.

So before you review the criteria and fill out an application, here are the guiding principles for the JOHN AUSTIN TRUCKING FOUNDATION process: Personal responsibility is required and is a trait you will need for a successful career in trucking. We are giving out grants so we expect applications to be complete and accurate. If not, we will not spend any time chasing down information.

The process is simple, the roadmap is clear. Self-reliance is also something required to be in the trucking industry so please fight the urge to call or email us. The JOHN AUSTIN TRUCKING FOUNDATION is a very small part of running our trucking association and we do not have dedicated staff for this program.

MMTA remains the final arbiter. We can appreciate how hard you are willing to work to get your career in gear, but the JOHN AUSTIN TRUCKING FOUNDATION is an effort to do something good with the financial resources we have been given. When disputes happen, MMTA decisions are final.

Given all of that as a backdrop, we want to help you reach your career goals. Here is more information on how we plan to do that. We say “up to” because we have limited funding each month, different requests have different connections to careers in trucking, and some applicants will be more deserving based upon their information submission and the effort they put into it.

We will also only reimburse for the amount of the training up to the award amount. Up to 8 awards each month. While this and/or the amount may change over time, the financial backing for this program is coming from the generosity of MMTA members and we want to be sure the program is fulfilling its objectives before we adjust our budget.

Once submitted, applicants will remain automatically eligible for the next two months should they not be selected in the month they applied as long as training is currently in-progress or otherwise not completed. No follow up is needed and you do not need to resubmit a new application to remain eligible. If not selected for an award three months in a row, applicants are not eligible to reapply for a year.

Only one award per person. Even if it is for separate training or credentials. We want to help as many people as possible.

ELIGIBLE TRAINING/EDUCATION Such as Hazmat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples, etc. Commercial Vehicle or Equipment Technician Working on diesel, alternative fuels, electric, etc. Other vocational or professional programs (see below) Other vocational or professional programs that produce a credential/certificate/degree in a field directly related to trucking* (*at the sole discretion of the MMTA’s Trucking Workforce Opportunities Committee) Selection priorities.

Preference will be given to: Those who can’t otherwise afford the training they seek; Graduating high school seniors (as this program will eventually replace the John W. Austin Memorial Scholarship).

A recent transcript and your graduation date are required; Members of the military or veterans with honorable discharge; Those with a connection to an MMTA member company; The likelihood that the award will be used in a way that benefits the Maine trucking industry. Awards are determined without regard to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion.

The Maine trucking industry wants qualified individuals who work hard and want a fulfilling career. Period. You must live and/or work in Maine.

This is a program to benefit MMTA members, so recipients must be a Maine resident living in Maine, or employed in Maine by a company with a significant Maine presence. Proof will need to be provided upon completion of training. Additional information may not be considered after original application submission.

A successful trucking career requires preparation. Get everything together, grab a cup of coffee and submit your application. If selected to receive an award, awardees must provide the information requested in the timeframe requested in order to receive the award.

We will let successful candidates know what they need to send us and when they need to send it. Awardees must agree to allow MMTA to publish portions of their application including their name, picture and narrative responses (paraphrased or summarized) and any other non-financial information in our effort to promote the program and its impact.

If you do not follow the rules or submit an incomplete application, we reserve the right to disregard your application without notice. We certainly don't want to disqualify applications, but at the same time we don't want to be chasing down information just to give people free money either. Decisions made by the MMTA are final.

The objective of this program is to help people connected to trucking careers, and we feel the guidelines are clear. Therefore, there is no appeal process and MMTA decisions are final. Applications close at 5pm on the last business day (M-F) of every month.

All applicants will be notified of the decision within 2-weeks of that month’s application closure date. Payments will be made to recipients within two weeks of: receipt of proof they completed the training, including the cost of the training; and receipt of verifiable proof they are a Maine resident living in Maine, or they are employed by a Maine company or a company with a significant Maine presence. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

YOU CAN DO SO BELOW, BUT YOU CAN PREPARE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION BY DOWNLOADING THE INFORMATION YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE HERE : Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah U.S. Virgin Islands Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Europe Armed Forces Pacific Your Email Address (Required) Do any of the following categories describe you?

I am a graduating high school senior I am a member of the military or a veteran with honorable discharge I have a connection to the Maine trucking industry and/or a member of the MMTA Date of your graduation: (Required) Please upload a recent transcript: (Required) Max. file size: 32 MB. Please give us details on your military service: (Required) Please upload your DD-214 form (Required) Max.

file size: 32 MB. Please describe your connection to the Maine trucking industry and/or a member of the Maine Motor Transport Association: (Required) Employment History (Required) We may contact current or previous employers. If none, please indicate.

Are you a Maine resident living in Maine or will you be working for a Maine Company or a company that has a Maine presence when an award is distributed should you be selected? (Required) If you checked 'No', that is a requirement for award payment and your application will be rejected.

Employment Prospects (Required) Tell us how the funds you are seeking will be used to work in the trucking industry which may include increased role(s) in your current job or new career. We may contact the training provider so please be specific. Training/instruction that is related to trucking that you will apply a financial award to.

(Required) Institution you will be (or are currently) attending: (Required) Will instruction be in-person, online or both? (Required) Please provide instructor name, institution address, email address and phone number: (Required) *If known Please explain why you are not sure: (Required) Anticipated start date: (Required) When do you expect it to be completed?

(Required) Describe your need for financial assistance in enough detail to give the Selection Committee an idea of how important this funding would be. Also describe how you plan to use the funds if selected: (Required) As indicated previously, preference will be given to those who would not otherwise be able to afford the training.

Please submit informal narratives answering the following questions: What are your career objectives and how will this prospective training help meet those goals? (Required) How did you become interested in the career you selected? (Required) Describe how your prospective education is tied to the trucking industry and why it is important?

(Required) Please submit two letters of recommendation from non-family sources, such as a teacher, counsellor, supervisor or local trucking company. Letter of recommendation #1 (Required) Max. file size: 32 MB.

**PLEASE NOTE** Suspected AI generated Letters of Recommendation will cause the entire application to be rejected. If your LOR's do not contain the writer's relationship to you (how they know you), if it uses generic pronouns, or does not give us a way to contact them to ask questions, your application will be rejected. Letter of recommendation #2 (Required) Max.

file size: 32 MB. **PLEASE NOTE** Suspected AI generated Letters of Recommendation will cause the entire application to be rejected. If your LOR's do not contain the writer's relationship to you (how they know you), if it uses generic pronouns, or does not give us a way to contact them to ask questions, your application will be rejected.

Is there anything else you think we should know as we consider your application for an award? In an effort to help us promote the program, awardees must agree to allow MMTA to publish portions of their application including their name, picture and narrative responses (paraphrased or summarized) and any other non-financial information. (Required) Please upload a picture below that can be used for this purpose only.

Photo must be appropriate and must not include any other individuals in the frame.