Comments on: Alberta’s new Class 1 training: More in-cab training hours, Red Seal certification

By: Joseph Miller

Joseph Miller — Tue, 07 May 2024 13:56:42 +0000

What happens to drivers that have their license already? Do they get an automatic redseal? It does not say anything in the article about older drivers

By: Luke Oehlerking

Luke Oehlerking — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:36:54 +0000

I’ve been driving truck for over 10 years and really love to see this structure put into place, but that being said the minimum hours to be done in each phase is way too low, should be more like 200 hours for each phase, there’s so much to learn to be a good driver and you can’t pack all that into one week of training

By: Rick M

Rick M — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 04:18:03 +0000

I truly believe that this is a step in the right direction just as long as the trainers have had more than 5 years of driving in wide variety of situations not just local position and with the red seal certification the wages need to reflect that certification and not just over minimum wages.

By: Derrick Zaychuk

Derrick Zaychuk — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 02:55:08 +0000

The MELT program is a joke. There is way too much emphasis put on theory and not enough put on actual over the road training. An example of this is the air brake course. You don’t need to know how to disassemble the entire system on the side of the road. This is way too complicated for a new driver. Just show a new driver the basics. And they just drive around till they can pass their test after a certain amount of hours of on the road training. Then if they fail the driven just take it again and again till they pass. And then they are good to go to BC with a fully loaded super B with no mount experience. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong

By: Hank Kyle

Hank Kyle — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 00:43:59 +0000

What is the actual total time spent in training. 103. hours for first phase??? or what. Comment was “Not needing to spend $10.000.00 ” for training. what now is the cost and how is it financed.

By: John lafont

John lafont — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 15:22:23 +0000

This is a good start. After that training a new driver should have to drive for 6 more months with a qualified driver who has at least 5 years experience. I’ve been a truck driver for 55 years and have seen a lot of mistakes due to improper training. IE the Humbolt crash. Also being fluent in speaking and writing English so they understand.

By: Gary Creelman

Gary Creelman — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 13:39:51 +0000

Wondering if the insurance industry is on board with these changes? The Alberta only license appears to be issued to drivers with less training than the MELT program. The on going training seems to be available only to those drivers working for the large self insured carriers
A total rethink is needed here. MELT has a need improvement but this new approach does nothing for road safety especially in Alberta.

By: Dennis Fansler

Dennis Fansler — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 13:33:48 +0000

What type of Grandfathering will there be for experienced drivers to get red seal

By: Alicia Petersen

Alicia Petersen — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 04:52:39 +0000

The low pay for drivers needs to be addressed. They can receive a heavy sentence for wrongful actions but they’re paid so little.

By: Mike Tate

Mike Tate — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 17:42:34 +0000

So will current drivers automatically receive a red seal designation or?

By: Herb Jerb

Herb Jerb — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 16:17:43 +0000

Money grab, all started with a bus full of hockey players. Paying >$10k to be a truck driver is insane. You used to learn by swamping or as the jr driver running team then move to your own truck if you were ready and trustworthy. Classroom training beyond some mechanical knowledge and law review isn’t necessary.

And drivers don’t make money anymore because they can’t fudge log books.

By: Jay Woolner

Jay Woolner — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:55:20 +0000

This is fantastic, I’ve been saying since I got into the industry that this should be the way it is taught. The best advice I got in the beginning was to spend a year in the city figuring out how to back up and operate in traffic. New drivers should spend at least 3 months backing up in a yard before hitting the road.
My big question is how will this affect us old guys, will we be grandfathered into red seal?

By: Peter Fehr

Peter Fehr — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:03:55 +0000

In 1999 I paid $500 for my class 1 license, I drove all over the US and Canada without any accidents or issues with the law. The amount of money to get drivers trained nowadays is sureal, and still the quality of drivers that come out of it is ridiculous. It seems like the government has its way to squeeze every dollar from everyone. The drivers can hardly afford it and are always away from their loved ones. How long do the drivers have to work with the low wages to even pay for it. The corrupt government is just adding more taxes upon taxes, making it more difficult to even want to stay in this beautiful land, shame on you for making it so hard for the real hardworking Canadians. Very concerning

By: Walter Duyvestyn

Walter Duyvestyn — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 18:19:54 +0000

In reply to Ramay, Khalid Mahmood. Borrow the money.that's what you do when you want it bad enough,no more free handouts

By: Walter Duyvestyn

Walter Duyvestyn — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 18:14:43 +0000

In reply to Ramay, Khalid Mahmood. Borrow the money.no more hand outs

By: Al Steeves

Al Steeves — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 13:53:57 +0000

In reply to Ed Mccarthy. You are 100 percent correct. Good companies that truly care and adequately compensate otr drivers, are rare. Long hours, poor facilities, especially in Canada and low pay for hours spent working, do not make this a viable career choice for many young people. I do know what it's like to have dispatch constantly pushing you while that ELD has the time running out. Then they pretend to care about safety and you need a clean license, while running against the clock. To sum it up, all of the above points and more, do not attract prime talent in today's world. When will it ever change? Glad that I am done.

By: Ramay, Khalid Mahmood

Ramay, Khalid Mahmood — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 05:17:33 +0000

The interest and concern of the minister towards a better trucking in Alberta is really appreciable. Is there any government or private sponsorship available for class 1 driving licence aspirants so that they do not pay to a driving school from their own pocket especially when they cannot?

By: Ed Mccarthy

Ed Mccarthy — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 03:58:32 +0000

Class 1 drivers are not staying in the trucking industry because they are paid low wages , they are treated like crap by employers and customers and the public and towns . I am presently working by the mile which means no overtime long hours and an a**hole manager hired by his best buddy who dosnt even have a class 1 . After 16 years of driving I’m thinking of walmart as a happy substitute to this misery . Don’t become a class 1 driver , it’s horrible.

By: Krystyna Shchedrina

Krystyna Shchedrina — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 20:36:59 +0000

In reply to Ed Davidson. Thanks for your comment. The story has been updated with the correct number of the training hours.

By: Ed Davidson

Ed Davidson — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 17:50:46 +0000

This is factually wrong! There is no discussion to increase the hours. It’s the opposite. Alberta after all Cut the red tape and make it easier to do business not make it harder.

The author should have done more research!