As the economy continues to drag on sluggishly through the summer, truck driving schools have never had it better.

Daly’s Truck Driving School in Buford is seeing an increase in students due to the Workforce Investment Act, which allows unemployed citizens to receive funding for job training.

"A lot of people don’t know about it, so we always ask if they’re working when they call and get them started on the program," said Stephanie Matus, the WIA coordinator at Daly’s. Students attend 180 hours of classwork and driving time and can choose a full-time schedule during the week or part-time schedule for weekends.

"We’re seeing things pick up quite a bit," said Don Nestor, program chairman of the Commercial Truck Driving Program at Athens Technical College. "So many people are out of jobs, and commercial truck driving is still hiring students."

Students train for weeks with written tests on map-reading, employee relations, safety and health issues before hopping behind a wheel for training.

"We have a simulator that puts students through 52 scenarios, such as cars pulling out in front of them, changing gears, parallel parking and alley docking," he said.

With the increased demand, Athens Tech is looking at other campuses to offer the program, particularly in Walton County.

"There are a vast amount of people in the Atlanta area that we can train, and we hope to expand within a year," Nestor said.

At North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville, program enrollment is up 30 percent.

"It really is because of the economy and people coming back for education through Department of Labor programs," said Sandra Maughon, a spokeswoman for the college. "In June, we graduated 28 students, which is the largest class ever to graduate from the program in one quarter."

The college offers a 10-week training sessions with many hours behind the wheel. Johnnie Danner, 20, and several other students at Lanier Technical College, which does not offer such a program, decided to enroll in the program to complement their Motorsports Vehicle Technology degree.

"A lot of companies and racing teams are looking for CDLs these days," he said.

Instructors at both colleges arranged for the eight students to take the course. "It makes you more aware of your driving. I’ve seen a lot of changes in my driving, even in my street car. You pay more attention and become a more defensive driver, looking for hazards as they come up," Danner said.

Danner said he hopes the CDL addition will make a difference as he applies to work with the American Le Mans Series. He helped with the Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta in Braselton last year and thinks the license will help him stay involved.

But not all new students are joining the program because of the economy. Kathy Pruitt, 56, of Cleveland decided to finally tackle a challenge she’s always wanted to do.

"Some girls play with Barbies, and others like more outdoorsy things," she said. "I got married, had children and thought it was time to step up and do something. It’s Momma’s turn now."

The course has helped her beyond achieving the driving license.

"I’ve learned more about safety than I ever dreamed of ... and the nature of what goes into a trailer, the necessity of every product and its safety," said Pruitt, who plans to drive trucks for a job after she graduates from the course in September.

"But I’m still deciding which company I’ll apply for."