Commercial truck driving training at Safety Connections driving school (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Gates Guarin

Commercial driving safety month stresses importance of proper training

Jun 16, 2022 | 2:10 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Alberta government is putting an emphasis on commercial truck driving safety during the month of June.

Driving instructors are stressing the importance of driver safety, especially on the Trans-Canada Highway and with Medicine Hat being a transportation hub to central Canada and the United States.

The government says around 88 per cent of collisions involving commercial trucks involved some form of driver error.

In 2019, the Alberta government implemented the Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) program. The program requires drivers applying for a class one or two licence to complete a mandated number of hours of in-class, in-yard and in-vehicle training, as well as completing a standardized curriculum.

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Janice Kirchner, owner of Safety Connections driving school, says it’s important for drivers to know being behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is more than just having to drive.

“When we look at the stats and how many incidents are on the road, whether it’s a regular vehicle or commercial vehicle, the people in the commercial vehicles have to understand that there are more regulations that they’re following,” Kirchner says. “It’s not just driving a big truck, it is that occupation, so driving is their job.”

Kirchner adds the MELT program helps drivers acquire a licence should they move to a different province.

“It was that if you got a class one licence in Alberta and you move to Saskatchewan (or vice-versa), the other province could choose as to whether they wanted to accept that credential,” Kirchner says. “(MELT) is very consistent and is following the national safety codes.”

Kirchner says because of how close Medicine Hat is to the borders, proper training is paramount.

“It is critical that people have the skills that they need, whether it’s oilfield, long-haul, short-haul, whatever it is that they’re doing,” says Kirchner.