SALINA, Kan. (AP) — The Salina Area Technical College is working to start a professional trucking program because demand for drivers is strong.

The Salina Journal reports that the program was discussed last week during a meeting with needy employers.

Vice president of instruction Pedro Leite says the technical school is looking for seed money. The hope is have the program up and running by next spring.

Fort Scott Community College in southeast Kansas offers the only truck driving school in Kansas that’s affiliated with the Board of Regents.

Salina Tech will be the second, and much of the necessary equipment has been donated by local industry players. Great Plains Trucking and Apac-Kansas Shears Division have each supplied a truck. Apac and Schwan’s Global Supply added trailers.