Trucker shortage fuels enrollment surge at California school
ABC News
Business is booming at a truck-driving academy in suburban Los Angeles amid a nationwide shortage of long-haul drivers
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- On a recent afternoon, Tina Singh watched nearly a dozen students at a suburban Los Angeles truck-driving school backing up their practice vehicles into parking spaces. Many had never operated a manual transmission before.
“It’s an exciting time to be a truck driver right now because there’s so much demand for drivers,” said Singh, the school's director. “Our yards are busy, and they’re very vibrant with a lot of activity.”
Business is booming at the California Truck Driving Academy amid a nationwide shortage of long-haul drivers that has led to promises of high pay and instant job offers. The Inglewood school has seen annual enrollment grow by almost 20% since last year, and has expanded to offering night classes.
“Everything in this country runs by truck at some point or another,” Singh said. “And so, you know, you need truck drivers to move goods.”
