This month Joliet Junior College starts a fast-track trucking program that’s aimed at meeting a growing demand for truck drivers.

“This program is designed for people with little or no commercial driving experience,” said Director, Corporate & Community Services Amy Murphy. “The Industry is growing. Transportation is not going away and there are always trucking services because of the demand for products.”

The trucking program can be completed in 4 weeks by attending full time, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and requires an additional 30 hours of home study. The program is non-credit and classes start every two weeks. One highlight is that the Secretary of State’s office comes to the site to conduct testing for certification, which is awarded upon the completion of the program.

And if a person is recently laid-off and can prove financial need, they may qualify for tuition assistance from the Workforce Investment Fund, available through their local Workforce Job Services office. Tuition for the course is $3,995. Several of the trucking companies that the school is associated with also offer tuition reimbursement for the programs, said Murphy.

The school works with many companies who also may pre-hire students, she added. And salary ranges for the truck drivers fall between $18 to $28 an hour.

And like any field, trucking has it challenges, said Murphy, such as high turnover, long hours and non-traditional work schedules. These issues are discussed with the students during the program, she added.

About 350 to 400 students are expected to attend the program this year, which will be held at Joliet Junior College’s Weitendorf Agricultural Education Facility, 17840 Laraway Road, in Joliet.