B.C. working to develop MELT standard

VICTORIA, B.C. – B.C. could soon be the next province to announce a mandatory entry-level driver training (MELT) program.

According to the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC), it, along with the province’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, is working to support the development of a new MELT program for Class 1 drivers.

“ICBC is examining a number of different training options to improve commercial vehicle driver safety, including the recently introduced MELT programs in Ontario and Alberta, as well as the U.S.” ICBC stated in a release to Truck News-West. “As with the MELT programs in Ontario and Alberta, B.C. plans to propose a standardized mandatory curriculum for use by the driver training industry that specifies the number of required hours for in-classroom, behind-the-wheel, and in-yard instruction.”

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said current applicants for Class 1 licences must undergo “robust testing, mandatory air brake training, and driver record screening prior to being issued a licence.”

The ministry told Truck News-West that the ongoing review of the province’s Class 1 commercial driver training standards will be examined to see what improvements can be made and how those changes will be implemented.

The provincial government also said it supports Transport Canada’s recently announced national standard for MELT, which is expected to be developed by early next year in partnership with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, as well as provincial jurisdictions.

Shelley McGuinness, communications specialist with the B.C. Trucking Association (BCTA), said the fact that a national standard is coming down the pike poses an interesting problem.

“Can you cover all of B.C.’s requirements in a national program, or do you make the national program a foundation, and build on that with specific requirements per province?” McGuinness questioned. “Obviously, truck drivers trained to a standard in one province may still operate across Canada. But truck drivers obtaining certification in Manitoba or Saskatchewan have no way to practice mountain driving on the road as trainees.”

Because the province presents unique challenges for drivers, such as mountain terrain with steep grades and unpredictable weather, McGuinness believes B.C. needs its own MELT program.

“The experience and needs of the industry and drivers in our province, combined with our unique transportation profile means we need to cover a lot of ground,” she said. “We’re Canada’s Asia-Pacific gateway with a number of ports, we have high mountain passes and severe weather, our highway system includes ocean-going and inland ferries. So in the classroom or cab, we should be providing training that covers B.C.-specific practices, requirements, and skills.”

The BCTA has made clear it wants to offer its expertise and knowledge when it comes to the province’s development of a MELT standard, and has voiced to the government and ICBC the need for a program.

The association also welcomes the opportunity to be part of the creation of a national MELT standard, which could come by January 2020, and looks forward to doing so as part of the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

Semi-Truck speeding on remote Winter Road, intentional blur motion by camera movement and shutter speed.

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A university graduate with a degree in English, I have worked in the media and trucking industries as a writer, editor, and now as western bureau chief of Today's Trucking and TruckNews.com. I have several years of management experience in journalism, as well as hospitality, but am first and foremost a writer, both professionally and in my personal life, having completed two fiction novels.
derek@newcom.ca
@DerekClouthier


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  • All new people (drivers) entering the trucking industry should be no less than 3 months in school mandatory entry level training and 3 months on the job mandatory entry level training before going solo.
    A total of 6 months training as a class AZ license truck driver.
    Total hours of training 600
    In school program 300 hours
    On the job training 300 hours
    And then you mite get some good one.
    By then every thing will start to smood out and the words will spread around.
    Minimize accident.
    Because.
    Driving is next to living!!!
    Drive Safely.

  • MELT = pre licensing training NOT pre-employment training.

    MELT should read Minimum not Mandatory Entry Level Training. It simply isn’t good enough.

    Perhaps we need graduated licensing. This still doesn’t prevent a serious fatal crash.
    Any infraction or incident within the first 6 months of commercial driving, you must go to a short list of approved training providers for re-training and re-testing. If found that skill level is wanting – you must go to an approved school – we have to get rid of the licensing mills (Driver Inc. and so on)
    Maybe Non-Mountain trained drivers need to prove that they have x – number of hours with a company “certified” or senior driver trainer before being allowed to driver mountain passes or even winter driving period. Driving across the top of Superior and some roads in Quebec and out East are “fun” as well.

    Lets finally evolve and force driving into being a profession and have the proper and appropriate training. Training that includes more than just driving.
    Check out the hours and training required to be able to become a hairdresser.

    Make 4 lefts, 4 rights, 20 min drive answer some questions that you should know regardless, and a backing manoeuvre, again something you need to be able to get a job – and here’s your licence.
    There is a crash or serious incident happening right now on a road near you. When will we get serious about licensing?

  • Professional driving should be recognized as a trade. It should be offered in school at the age of 16. There should be a 2 year curriculum that gives them an opportunity to gradate with a class one license.
    Promote our profession as a career, and not a fall back on job. This is something that needs to change.

  • One thing I have not really heard much about is , training the trainer to a higher standard than it is now . I believe this is a huge part of the problems we face in today’s trucking industry.