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MELT is a Mandatory Entry-Level Training requirement for Class 1 commercial drivers, which is being conducted throughout Canada in a handful of jurisdictions (note that some provinces extend the MELT requirements to Class 2 licences). The purpose of the requirement is to ensure that applicants possess the basic knowledge and driving skills to safely operate a commercial vehicle that requires a Class 1 (Class A) or Class 2 driver's licence to operate on Canadian roads.
Scope
It is expected that all Canadian jurisdictions will adopt the NSC standards as a reference. While the NSC standards imply a minimum, there is no constraint on jurisdictions going beyond this specification. Currently, the following Provincial jurisdictions have implemented MELT:
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Saskatchewan
Regulatory citations
- National Safety Code Standard 16, Commercial Truck Driver Entry level training (January 2021)
Summary of requirements
MELT in British Columbia (BC). The Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure and Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) requires MELT for drivers who wish to obtain a Class 1 commercial BC driver's licence. Drivers need to complete a MELT course before taking their Class 1 road test. MELT requires all Class 1 learner's licence holders to have a minimum number of hours of training time (classroom, yard time, on-road time) completed prior to attempting an ICBC road test.
BC’s program exceeds the minimum requirements set by the National Safety Code Standard for entry-level training of class 1 drivers.
MELT in Alberta. Effective March 1st, 2019, Alberta implemented 113 hours of training, including classroom and on-road time for Class 1 (tractor-trailer) learner licence holders. So far, Alberta is the only province with a mandatory entry-level training requirement for Class 2 (bus) licensing, which is for 50 hours of training. Alberta has also instituted training requirements for Class 2-S, which is required to drive a school bus, of 53.5 hours.
Any Class 1 drivers that received their licence in Alberta prior to October 11th, 2018 are not required to retest or take the MELT program. Anyone who received a full Class 1 licence between October 11th, 2018 and February 28th, 2019 will be required to take a knowledge test and road test to keep the licence.
Alberta has followed very closely to Saskatchewan’s model for transferring a licence from another province. Drivers that have already completed the MELT program with another province or have held their Class 1 for more than two years are able to transfer directly into a Class 1 Alberta licence.
A driver that has held their full Class 1 for one year to two years are required to take a knowledge test and road test to receive the licence. If a driver is unsuccessful on their initial attempt, they would be required to take the MELT program. Any drivers that have had a full Class 1 licence for less than one year, are required to complete the MELT program to obtain that Class of licence again.
For a Class 1 licence, 40.5 hours of the MELT program is designated for classroom time, 15.5 hours for yard training, and 57 hours of practical training. Alberta does not have an on-road or off-road requirement for behind the wheel training.
The Class 2 licence has 18 hours of designated classroom time, 10.6 hours of yard training, and 21.25 hours of practical training. The Class 2-S has slightly more required training, with 18.5 hours of classroom time, 11 hours of yard time, and 24 hours of practical training.
To help students receive a fair rate for training, Alberta has introduced a cap of $10,000 for the Class 1 MELT program and a cap of $5000 for the Class 2 and 2-S. The average cost for MELT in Alberta is approximately $8900.
While the Alberta government released some changes to their MELT requirements in October of 2019, allowing school bus drivers and agricultural farmers and farm workers an exemption from taking additional training or testing, they have now taken a step back and are reverting to their original outline. This exemption would have applied to Class 2 drivers that only operate school buses and Class 1 drivers that only operate for farming use, and only upon a review of the drivers' history. Drivers with clean driving records (no demerits, violations, or suspensions) wouldn't have had to re-test.
MELT in Manitoba. Manitoba implemented a MELT program on September 1st, 2019. They require 121.5 hours of training, consisting of 40.5 hours in-class, 40 hours in-yard, and 41 hours in-cab.
Any driver that completes the road test and obtains a full Class 1 licence prior to the September 1st implementation date will be able to continue to hold the licence without any additional training or testing.
Uniquely, Manitoba does have a 244-hour Professional Truck Driver Training Course which is offered at private institutes and will be considered equivalent to the MELT program. Students that are making their way through the Professional Truck Driver Training Course will be able to continue their training program and complete their road test after September 1st, 2019.
Out-of-province drivers with a full Class 1 licence can move to Manitoba and transfer their licence without any additional training or testing, as long as they have already completed the Mandatory Entry Level Training in a different province or have held their licence for a minimum of two years. Out-of-province applicants with one to two years of experience will be allowed to write a knowledge test and road test within one year of transferring the licence. Successfully passing both tests will waive the need for any additional training. Any person that has held a Class 1 licence for less than one year will be required to take the MELT program and complete both a knowledge test and a road test.
Costs can vary for MELT in Manitoba, with prices ranging from $6,000 to $9,000 depending on the driver training facility.
MELT in Saskatchewan. The province of Saskatchewan introduced Mandatory Entry Level Training in March 2019, Saskatchewan requires a minimum of 121.5 hours of training, including classroom and on-road time for Class 1 (tractor-trailer) learner licence holders. Any person who passed a Class 1 road test prior to the implementation date will be grandfathered in and not required to retest.
If you are looking to move to Saskatchewan and have already obtained a Class 1 or equivalent licence, there are a few things to keep in mind. Drivers that have already completed the MELT program with another province or have held their Class 1 equivalent for more than two years are able to transfer directly into a Class 1 Saskatchewan licence.
A driver that has held their Class 1 for one year to two years are able to transfer it upfront; however, would be required to take a knowledge test and road test within the year of transfer or the licence would be downgraded to a Class 3 equivalent. Any drivers that have had a Class 1 licence for less than one year, would be transferred to a Class 3 licence, and would then be required to complete the Saskatchewan MELT program to upgrade to a Class 1 again.
Of the 121.5 hours of training required by MELT, 47 hours are designated for classroom time, and 17.5 hours of yard training.
Class 1 training in Saskatchewan will cost between $6,000 and $8,500, and grants may be available to help with the expense. There have been talks of having the training costs covered under the federal student loan program; however, there is no confirmed information at this time.
MELT in Ontario (ON). Ontario was the first to implement mandatory training in July 2017. Any person looking to obtain a Class A (tractor-trailer) licence is required to take at least 103.5 hours of classroom and on-road training before being eligible for a road test.
The MELT program designates 36.5 hours for classroom time, 17 hours for yard training, 32 hours of mandatory on-road training, and 18 hours of off-road training behind the wheel.
Training providers or schools in Ontario are able to set their own costs and programs vary in cost. There are programs from $4900 to $15,000, depending on the school and the experiences provided.
To help offset some of the costs associated with this training requirement, Ontario does offer funding options. There are government programs available such as Second Career, which helps to cover program costs and living expenses for unemployed and laid-off workers, Workplace Safety Insurance Board, which helps rehabilitate injured workers into a new career, and Ontario Works, which will cover the cost of the program for recipients. There are also programs set up for Aboriginal Band members to help cover costs.
Employers are also able to apply for funding directly to help pay for new employees to get their licenses. This is done through the Canada-Ontario Jobs Grant and is a great way to hire the employee you want, even if they don’t have the required licence or training time completed.