Alberta will launch a trade designation for Class 1 commercial drivers in June 2027, offering journeyperson certification for truck driving.

Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen said commercial driving should be recognized as a skilled trade.

Virtually addressing the Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada’s Red Seal Ontario meeting in Etobicoke, Ont., Dreeshen said that just as electricians, carpenters and mechanics benefit from recognized standards of excellence, so too should those who play an integral role in supply chains and the economy.

He said the Red Seal designation will improve safety by standardizing high-quality training and ensuring consistent standards nationwide. That will reduce variability, he added, and allow commercial drivers to begin training in a manner similar to apprentices in other skilled trades, with flexible, learner-focused education. The approach will help carriers hire drivers and reduce onboarding time, he said.

Last April, Alberta launched a learning pathway for new Class 1 drivers as the first step toward a trade designation. The Ministry of Advanced Education approved province-wide education for professional drivers last November. Once complete, Alberta will be the first jurisdiction to offer journeyperson certification for truck driving.

Dreeshen said at least five jurisdictions must designate commercial driving as a trade to achieve a national Red Seal designation. He described Red Seal as a measure of confidence in workforce quality and safety outcomes, not an added regulatory layer.

Voluntary program

Lynn Varty, assistant deputy minister of traffic safety services with Alberta’s Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors, told attendees the designation will be voluntary, noting that most trade designations are not mandatory.

She said the program will establish a national training and competency framework, so drivers are trained consistently and standards are applied across Canada. Carriers hiring a journeyperson professional driver could expect a defined level of competency consistent with other Red Seal trades, she added.

Experienced drivers will not need to complete the full program but will be required to pass an exam to demonstrate competency and obtain certification. Varty said carriers are helping design the competency-based program and that attention is being paid to instructor training and oversight.

Small carrier buy-in vital

She added that buy-in from smaller carriers will be critical. About 85% of Alberta carriers operate 10 trucks or fewer, and often the owner is also an operator.

While mandatory entry-level training is in place across most of Canada, Varty said its development and delivery vary by jurisdiction. A Red Seal framework would bring greater consistency and standardization.

Insurance industry support

She also said drivers must be incentivized to pursue certification. For wages to rise, insurers will need to recognize the training and support carriers through lower premiums. Without that alignment, she cautioned, the initiative risks losing momentum.

Varty added that consensus across the insurance sector will be necessary to strengthen the system.