Trucker shortage fuels enrollment surge at California school

Eugene Garcia The Associated Press On a recent afternoon, Tina Singh watched nearly a dozen students at a suburban Los Angeles truck-driving school backing up their practice vehicles into parking spaces. Many had never operated a manual transmission before. “It’s an exciting time to be a truck driver right now because there’s so much demand for drivers,” Singh, the school’s director, said. “Our yards are busy, and they’re very vibrant with a lot of activity.” Business is booming at the California Truck Driving Academy amid a nationwide shortage of long-haul drivers that has led to promises of high pay and instant job offers. The Inglewood school has seen annual enrollment grow by almost 20% since last year, and has expanded to offering night classes. “Every