NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. -- Although the start date of a commercial driver's license class is still undetermined in Hancock County, school officials said they expect the first class to begin in mid-September.

Hancock County school officials received grants to start an adult CDL program to meet a growing need for truck drivers in the Ohio Valley.

"The truck driving program that we're beginning is because of a demand from the petrol-chemical industry in the area," said Marty Hudak, the director of the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center. "While it's going strong, it's potentially going to get bigger."

School officials haven't advertised about the 12-week class yet, but they're already getting phone calls from people interested in taking the class.

"The tuition for this will be $4,000. There will be a fee that is apart of that $4,000 that will cover the initial cost of getting a background check and fingerprinting," said Hudak.

Hudak explained why the class size will be limited.

"The cab only has room for three in the back to sit and observe while the instructor is in the front with the student who is actually driving. There will be four students per class per instructor, so that will be eight students," said Hudak. "With a 12-week turnaround, we can get an awful lot of drivers out there certified and getting them ready to be hired for some of the local companies. And it doesn't have to be in the petrol-chemical industry. They can go into becoming bus drivers or drivers for any of the industries in the area."

Hudak said when a definite start date is picked, the school system will advertise the class through local newspapers and television stations.