Prospective truck drivers gain hands-on experience behind the wheel of a semi-trailer thanks to a 10-week program at El Camino College in Torrance.

The truck driver training program is offered because there is a high demand for truck drivers. At the end, program coordinators go with students to the Department of Motor Vehicles and provide trucks so students can obtain their Class A commercial driver’s license.

El Camino College officials told KCAL on Wednesday that many of the students in the program are getting a second chance at a new and exciting career and life path.

“We have a lot of students who have previously been in prison or come from other backgrounds, and we can support them by giving them the training and skills they need,” said Veronica Mendoza, the program coordinator. “We connect them with available financial aid.”

The program costs $6,000, but students can apply for financial aid.

“I was homeless, so they gave me a waiver to take the class,” said Austin Gonzales, a student. “So I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket.”