Further details are beginning to emerge in Alberta’s plan to revamp Class 1 driver training and introduce a phased approach to licensing, assessments, and an optional Red Seal certification.

Launching on April 1, 2025, the Learning Pathway will span five phases, integrating graduated licensing, competency-based assessments, and an optional Red Seal certification. Class 1 drivers in Alberta will require 103.5 hours of mandatory training as part of the broader goal to make truck driving a Red Seal-certified job three years from now. The existing mandatory entry-level training program (MELT) requires 113 hours of training, which includes 57 hours of in-cab training.

“While the new learning program will reduce barriers to Class 1 licensing, it will also require more hours of in-vehicle training than the current MELT system, and opportunities for ongoing competency training will continue throughout a driver’s career, increasing safety,” an Alberta Transportation spokesman told TruckNews.com in April, when initial plans were announced.

The phases are designed to progressively build skills, with Phases 1 to 3 focusing on developing and reinforcing driving skills, while Phases 4 and 5 emphasize on-the-job experience and professional certifications.

“Phases 1 to 3 serve to introduce and reinforce commercial vehicle driving skills and knowledge to produce competent Class 1 drivers who can safely operate on our highways and roads. There is not so much an adjustment of where and when training is provided as a recognition that mastering these skills occurs with time and practice,” said Robert Harper, president of the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA), in an email to TruckNews.com.

“Phase 1 of the pathways will provide resources to potential commercial drivers, explaining the industry and its various opportunities, to screen those not really suited, or direct them into aspects of the industry that may be more suitable to their lifestyle or personality.”

Restricted, interprovincial, and full licences

Phase 2 involves restricted licensing, allowing drivers to drive in Alberta alone. The third phase will allow interprovincial trips, while in Phase 4 a trucker will have a full Class 1 licence. Harper described this as a practical way to reinforce essential skills while maintaining safety standards.

“Most of the graduated experience will be based upon type of equipment and endorsement over skills needed, similar to the already additional training for Long Combination Vehicles,” he said.

“Phase 4 and 5 skills are mapped out at a very high level with an emphasis on working toward mastery of competencies through on-the-job learning, coaching, and mentoring whilst promoting and supporting a professional driving practice in learners,“ he said. “Phase 4 and 5 skills are mapped out at a very high level with an emphasis on working toward mastery of competencies through on-the-job learning, coaching, and mentoring whilst promoting and supporting a professional driving practice in learners.”

The competency-based framework shifts the focus from mandatory training hours to skill mastery, targeting key areas like vehicle components and systems, regulations, professional driving practices, as well as driver health and wellness, Harper said. He added that this approach ensures training aligns with real-world requirements and the curriculum outlined and developed by industry and Trucking HR Canada.

For the first time, Alberta’s truck drivers will also have the opportunity to pursue a Red Seal certification in Phase 5 – expected to be implemented by 2027 – officially positioning truck driving as a professional, recognized trade. Discussions are underway to potentially “grandfather” experienced drivers into the program, Harper said, though details are still in development.

“It seems to be fair to providing a credential to existing skilled drivers to obtain a Red Seal without investing a large amount of time to obtain a credential where they have already demonstrated the skills, but it is too early in the process to articulate clearly how and what this will look like.”

Collaborative rollout planned

Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC) will oversee Phases 1 to 3, with Advanced Education managing the advanced training and certification phases. While the full pathway is scheduled to begin in 2025, the advanced stages will roll out later as curriculum development continues.

“Transportation and Economic Corridors’ (TEC) deadline for pathways is April 1, 2025. Advanced Education’s process is following a detailed process of consultation of stakeholders, as well as developing curriculum,” Harper said.