New Ontario Truck Drivers Must Pass Training Course by Next July
Come next July 1, all Ontario residents who want to take the province’s Class A road test to become commercial truck drivers must successfully complete an entry-level training course through an approved training provider.
“It’s a game-changer,” David Bradley, president of the Ontario Trucking Association, wrote in a statement. “The days of being able to walk in off the street and take the tractor-trailer test with no training whatsoever are over in Ontario. We believe [this] is an important safety measure. It will also help ensure carriers will have an adequate supply of consistently trained, quality new drivers in the future. For a long time, carriers have been concerned over the lack of consistency in the basic level of competency exhibited by recently licensed Class A drivers. Just because a new driver holds a Class A license is not a sufficient indicator that he or she has attained even the basic skills a carrier can then nurture over time into a professional driver.”
The rule, which was announced by Ontario Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca on June 28, will require a minimum of 103.5 hours of training (115.5 hours if the air brake course is included) and apply to private career colleges, community colleges and other regulated authorities.
“The safety of all users of Ontario's roads and highways is our top priority,” Del Duca said in a statement announcing the rule. “The introduction of mandatory training in addition to knowledge and road tests is designed to ensure that commercial truck drivers are properly trained before they are tested.”
Del Duca’s rule also has the support of the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario.
“The new standard will help to produce higher quality commercial drivers and ultimately make our roads safer for everyone,” said Kim Richardson, the organization’s chairman.
Bradley said while making it harder to get a Class A license could seem counter-intuitive in a period when there’s a driver shortage, he added, “Too often [truck driving is] considered the job of last resort. It’s hard to argue the occupation should be treated like other trades in the absence of any form of mandatory training.”
Mike Millian, president of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, praised Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation for making it clear that “the industry’s view was not only wanted, but necessary. Overall the mandatory entry-level training standard is a great win for the industry and will help to raise the profile of the job of the professional driver. The standard will also go a long way in removing the unqualified licensing mill training schools from our industry.”
While Bradley said Ontario’s rules will reflect the entry-level portion of the National Occupational Standard developed by Trucking HR Canada and the Canadian Trucking Alliance, the province will be the first jurisdiction in Canada to require mandatory, certified training for Class A drivers. Bradley, who also serves as the president of the CTA, said he hopes other provinces will follow.
