A statewide training and licensing program is aiming to help curb the nationwide shortage of truck and bus drivers.

Specific training and licensing are needed in order to get behind commercial vehicles.

"We've got a shortage of CDL [commercial driver's license] drivers across the whole country, and you know we're feeling that as well in Connecticut," said Don Devivo, president of DATTCO.

The state has stepped in, releasing $4.5 million in grants of federal COVID funding to go toward commercial driver's license training.

"Here we are a couple years later doing everything we can to make sure you get the drivers you need when you need them," said Gov. Ned Lamont.

Along with working as commercial truck drivers, a CDL also enables the license holder to be a bus driver as well.

The state says the goal is to train more than 1,000 people over the next few years. Currently, the state says there are more than 100 people enrolled in the license training program through CareerConneCT.

"I went into the program and I thought this is really interesting," said Michael Williams, a CDL trainee.

There are currently 11,000 job openings for CDL drivers.