CALGARY — The Alberta government has pledged $575,000 to fund an industry-led training program for drivers, dispatchers, safety supervisors, and other key workers at truck and bus companies.

The program is being created by the Transportation Training and Development Co., a non-profit corporation led by Canadian Freightways president Darshan Kailly. It is intended to establish a training curriculum and certification standards akin to trades programs regulated by the province.

The Alberta Ministry of Transportation and Utilities has advanced $150,000 for the development of the program and $200,000 to implement it, and will provide $200,000 over the next three years. Alberta Economic Development will contribute the remaining $25,000. “After that, it will be up to industry to drive it and support it,” said AT&U Minister Walter Paszkowski.

The TTDC will work with the Alberta government and Red Deer College in Red Deer, Alta., over the next year to 18 months to develop a curriculum, which will include some form of on-the-job training.

The program will be available to both public and private institutions throughout the province, and may eventually be used as a requirement for licensing, Kailly said.

“Today a mechanic can receive training anywhere in Alberta and come out with a certificate that employers recognize,” he added. “We hope to be able to do the same for truck and bus drivers and other front-line personnel.”