Logistics is one of the most important industries in Georgia, and it’s in need of workers RIGHT NOW.

While there’s been plenty of talk about driverless cars hitting the streets, the fact of the matter is we need commercial truck drivers in spades.

The American Trucking Association projects 50,000 more drivers will be needed by the end of the year across the U.S., an all-time high. More than 2,700 positions show up when you search "CDL Drivers in Georgia" on Indeed.com.

Albany Technical College wants to help, which is why it’s going to increase its commercial truck-driving program by 33 percent beginning in January.

The 8-week program involves coursework in the classroom as well as hands-on training behind the wheel.

Dean of Academic Affairs Emmett Griswold told WSFA expanding the program was a no-brainer, especially when he began hearing from logistics businesses looking for workers from within their programs.

“We have employers calling about 6th or 7th week before graduation looking for our graduates who are going to be graduating soon.”

The Albany Tech program falls under Gov. Nathan Deal’s newly expanded HOPE Career Grant program, which covers tuition for around 20 educational tracks in select majors specifically aligned with industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them.

Visit Albany Tech’s website if you’re interested in applying or learning more information. CDL drivers are a high-demand career in Georgia, and for those looking to get into something new and lucrative, it might be exactly what you’re looking for.