LANGLEY, B.C. — It’s been a few years in the making, but the B.C. Trucking Association is finally ready to unveil its new Professional Truck Driver Training Program, and they figure the timing is just right.

The voluntary pilot program was developed with the Transportation Career Development Association (transCDA) and is scheduled to begin mid-April.

The pilot phase is the next step in obtaining final approval for the Professional Driver Training Program from B.C.’s Industry Training Authority (ITA), the Crown agency that manages the province’s industry training system, including apprentice trade programs that provide recognized certification for graduates.

"We’ve been developing it for three years," says Louise Yako, vice-president of policy, communications and partnerships with BCTA. "We started an HR planning committee in 2006 with federal government funding. The committee developed a strategic plan and one of the main focuses was to develop a program for entry-level professionals."

Similar to existing apprenticeship programs, this curriculum combines classroom and practical training with work-based learning and incorporates two work placement components that trainees must complete prior to certification.

“The timing is both good and bad because things are still slow in the economy so there is a pool of drivers out there," says Yako, "but we want to be ready when the demand for trucking comes back." 

The pilot training program will be evaluated
as it unfolds by a third party

In total, students will be required to take 60 hours of classroom learning, 180 hours behind the wheel, four weeks of unpaid supervised work, and 1000 hours of paid work-based learning.

“The focus is not just on getting a licence, but also learning how to be a professional driver,” explains Yako, "So the student will also learn things like fatigue management, communications skills, and customer service. It goes above and beyond just driving.”

For the pilot phase, the BCTA is looking to enrol between eight and 20 students, as well as participating carriers. “It is possible for a carrier to take on more than one student, but it’s a big investment,” notes Yako.

The pilot training program will be evaluated as it unfolds by a third party assigned by the ITA. If successful, the frequency of the training program in the future will be determined by demand.

ITA provides annual funding to subsidize training programs it oversees, which lowers the cost. As well, trainees are eligible for student loans while employers are eligible for tax credits.

Having a recognized training managed by ITA doesn’t necessarily mean a trade designation for trucking is on the horizon, but it does open the door for that possibility.