Jim Christman operates a tractor-trailer as Mark Collins, HFM BOCES commercial driving instructor, gives him direction from the pavement at the Fulton County Highway Department in Johnstown on Tuesday.

JOHNSTOWN — If a person would like a good-paying, high-demand career that requires little training, Elaine Mongin has some advice — take the wheel of an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer.

Mongin is the coordinator of the commercial drivers license training program at the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Counties Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

She said it’s the only CDL training program in Fulton and Montgomery counties.

“We have 35 to 40 students per year in the CDL program,” Mongin said. “It is second only to our nursing program in popularity.”

Mongin said people must first obtain their CDL permit by taking a written test with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. They can then sign up for training to take the CDL Class A or B driving test. Class A qualifies a driver for tractor-trailers and Class B allows for vehicles like dump trucks. Further licensing is needed for other categories, such as bus driving.