TORONTO — The Ministry of Colleges, Universities and Training has given final approval to the criteria and curriculum for the new Voluntary Apprenticeship Program for Professional Truck Drivers in Ontario.

According to the Ontario Trucking Association, applications are now being accepted for this program from employers who are prepared to offer post employment training that meets the transportation ministry’s standards.

The program calls for a full year of training and mentoring for truck drivers who have just received their commercial drivers’ licence.

The process for apprenticeship will take an apprentice up to a year to complete. There is also a provision for existing drivers to obtain a similar certificate called a Certificate of Competency.

The program is based on “accredited” driver curriculums like CTHRC’s Earning Your Wheels and the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI).

The “finishing” program will train on a voluntary basis apprentice tractor-trailer drivers for about 12 weeks with a mentor and 40 weeks of on-the-job training. Drivers will learn to plan trips and inspect equipment, safely handle cargo, conduct routine vehicle checks, and prepare documentation, including bills of lading, border crossing security and custom forms.

For more information on how to apply, contact a local apprenticeship office (locations can be found by going to the Ministry’s web site (link below).