June 19, 2012- ALBANY, GA from WALB- Georgia's HOPE scholarship cuts are hurting more than just students, it's impacting the trucking industry.
Right now Albany Tech's truck driving school only has six students enrolled in its eight-week program. Before HOPE scholarship cuts, the number was nearly triple that.
With driver jobs in demand, trucking firms can't find enough qualified drivers to fill these lucrative jobs.
"400,000 over the next two years and 2,300 here in Georgia, that's the demand," said ATC Commercial Truck Driving Director Kenny Rogers. "But now the HOPE funds have been cut and the out of pocket costs have increased, so we've seen a decline in numbers. We're kind of holding our own. It could be a lot better. It should be better. Not just here but across the state."
The Albany Tech program costs $1,100 and its graduates have a 98% job placement rate.
See the orginial story at WALB