Alberta eyes Red Seal certification as it rolls out learning pathway for new truck drivers
Targeting Red Seal certification in the future, Alberta is mandating from April 1, that all aspiring truckers complete Class 1 driver’s licence training through its learning pathway.
The pathway was developed with the trucking industry, Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation and economic corridors, told TruckNews.com in an interview. It aims to match drivers with careers as well as train new entrants to the industry, with the goal of addressing the driver shortage in the province and country, he added.
“We want to make sure that there’s a sense of pride and professionalism with truck drivers,” he said.
The flexible, apprenticeship-style approach to training includes up to 133 hours of instruction, including air brake training, offering more hands-on skills and safety training than the former 113-hour MELT (mandatory entry-level training) program.
Enhanced in-cab training will provide learners with more hands-on experience and practical, competency-based learning, according to a news release.
Red Seal certification
Dreeshen said that five provinces need to agree on allowing the Red Seal certification for truck drivers. The certificate signifies that a tradesperson has demonstrated the knowledge and skills required for the national standard in their trade.
Alberta is in talks with Saskatchewan, Ontario and British Columbia, the minister added. He is hopeful that all provinces and territories will want to be part of the process.
The minister said that details have to be worked out on what type of training can be recognized. Truckers with certain years of experience will be grandfathered.
“Once we get across the finish line, it’s going to be a huge boost for the trucking industry,” he said.
Competency-based training
The competency-based Class 1 training includes content specific to the unique terrain, weather, cargo and equipment in Alberta’s commercial driving industry, the release added. Safety, wellness and responsibility are also foundational to the training curriculum, with additional content focused on personal health and well-being, workplace safety and incident response.
The pathway also focuses on improving safety on Alberta’s roads through enhanced accountability to increase consistency in how licensed driver training schools, carriers, instructors and examiners meet training, examination and operational standards. The new accountability framework includes oversight measures, as well as a progressive discipline policy for cases where one of these entities is not providing training to an acceptable standard.
The province is investing $54.1 million over three years in the Class 1 Learning Pathway grant program.
Grants available
A total of $30 million over three years is allocated for the Employment Pathway Grant which provides funding for eligible employers in the commercial driving industry to cover the costs of training and onboarding for new and future Class 1 drivers, leading to the direct employment of new drivers.
Application intake will open on April 1. This program will reimburse eligible employers for up to $10,000 for their training costs for new Class 1 drivers. It will offer an onboarding incentive of up to $10,000 for hiring new Class 1 drivers with less than two years of experience in a Class 1 driving position. And, it will provide an additional $5,000 for Class 1 driver professional development.
The Industry Advancement Grant will provide $24.1 million over three years in funding for eligible projects from organizations in the commercial transportation industry to support industry-driven solutions to increase employment, attraction and retention.
Industry projects
The grant launches April 15, with the 2025 call for expressions of interest closing May 16. Eligible industry projects targeting Class 3 commercial driving are included in this grant stream as Class 1 drivers often begin their careers driving Class 3 trucks (vehicles which have three or more axles).
The release noted that there are more than 149,000 licensed Class 1 drivers in Alberta, yet only 31% are employed as truck drivers.
Additionally, Alberta’s government is increasing access to training and testing for Class 1 commercial drivers’ licences licences through a reciprocal agreement with the Northwest Territories. The agreement allows for reciprocal training and testing for Class 1 (including air brake) licences starting April 1. Northwest Territories residents who take Class 1 driver training and testing in Alberta will also be licensed in the Northwest Territories. Albertans can also take Class 1 driver training and testing in the Northwest Territories and be licensed in Alberta.
Have your say
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Until the government does something about driver Inc, I mean really do something, all these programs are useless. They will find ways around it. The trucking industry in Canada is so corrupt, you are seeing more and more old companies disappearing off the map because they operate legally.
I applaud the concept of better training for Class 1 drivers,this is an imperative given the carnage on our roads particularly in the areas of our country that experience extreme weather changes.Again laudable for Alberta but this is clearly something that needs to be mandated federally because long haul drivers cross the country on a daily basis and the program is pointless if only one province mandates it. We are in a time where all the news is about tariffs and how we need to eliminate barriers to intra provincial trade so it needs to include a cross country set of regulations and training for drivers.It should go without saying that the $10,000 driver training cost reimbursement for employers should only be available to legitimate carriers,this does not mean only large carriers but rather the ones that are not already skirting their employees through Driver Inc contracts and abusive LMIA contracts that are just short of indentured servitude.
How do I get on the team that builds this program. 31% of 149,000 licensed Class 1 drivers tells me there is a bigger problem here. Not a driver shortage problem.
Training to competency is the way to go. Who is establishing the competency level? With out clear marking criteria evaluation results will be all over the map when compared to the desired skill levels.
I own a longhaul trucking company. This seems like a good program and it’s something that should have happened 20-30 years ago when the ‘old-timers’ who took a lot of pride in their work began retiring. But one of the biggest issues right now is the extremely low trucking rates. These drivers will want to be paid a higher rate, and deservedly so, but the industry can’t afford it right now. Most trucking companies are barely holding on as it is. The government is providing short term grants to help, but they need to look at this issue from the side of the trucking company, and figure out ways to support the industry as a whole. If companies can’t afford to pay drivers what they’re worth, potential drivers will be discouraged from getting their Class 1. The trucking rates need to be higher to really make this program work, so how does the government address this issue? You might say this isn’t a government issue, and I’m likely to agree with you, but they can’t address one side of the driver issue without addressing the other side. This only takes care of half the problem.
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The Trucking Industry really needs to go back to pre-1981 Standards, from the 1930s up to 1981, when it was REGULATED.
That kept everything in order for pretty much everyone.
We have to get back to a Regulated Trucking Industry= Less Problems Altogether.
Driver Inc is so big because unless payroll drivers are making on payroll $30 per plus overtime after 10 hours per day. many truck drivers will leave the industry and get a different better job. Because of low rates corners are cut that hurt safety . So to keep drivers cost down they are replaced with foreign {student} truck uber drivers that are often paid as Driver Inc truck drivers. These drivers often have the min training to get a drivers permit. Because of the fact that we have more trucks than freight many well run companies and lease owner ops have left the trucking industry. I think that without min driver pay on payroll people will find away around the red seal program and more good people will expire
I would like to address the grant for hiring drivers with less than 2 years driving experience. My insurance company is not excited about hiring drivers with less than 2 years experience or hiring a driver under 25 years old. With that logic it would seem to be pointless for a young person considering careers to have to wait until they are 25 to get a licence and then try to find a job with no experience. By then they could have completed an apprenticeship and earn more than a truck driver. We have to get insurance companies on board to go forward with this program. The MELT program is a huge step forward in Safety and driver training. More training and Red Seal, great. I feel bad when we get an applicant that we have to send away because they do not meet the insurance company’s age and experience standards. I know that we have sent some pretty good prospects somewhere else.
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We need to have each province have a insurance program like in sask or B C or MB and the fed gov pay half the cost of insurance for the first year for all drivers that can pass a english or French exam that have been in Canada for 5 or more years for fleets of under 50 units that do not cross the border or build key infrastructure for a max of 5 drivers per year. That pay them on payroll in my opinion
As the owner of a small Transport Company, I have long been in support of Red Seal status.
As far as wages go we have always paid hourly, currently in mid to high $30’s.
As we are selling a service, we need competent individuals who are able to add to the service provided.
This is often very challenging.
Government programs or legislation will not add value, or save the industry.
Its up all carriers, big and large, to police themselves. Not support bottom dollar freight,
Driver Inc, Leasing programs and various other nefarious other activities.
Work smarter, not harder and be aware of what you may be signing up for.
why not just acknowledge truck driving as a trade. we are expected to be trained properly and accountable then show some respect and let us be classed as a trade. I have 34 years driving and minimum wage is on the heals of a truck drivers wages . I can work in a warehouse and make just as much if not more . you can train all you want. if you think you can just place a person behind the wheel and its good your wrong. to be a good driver you need to want to be a good driver and enjoy what you do. I take pride that I am a truck driver. it was a childhood dream that I made come true because that’s what I wanted be.
Just improve pay and better places that a driver can safely park.
I am curious on how this will work for Class 1 drivers that are not going to be long-haul drivers, but working in other industries that require a Class 1 licence.