(Image courtesy of CHAT News Today, Pattison Media Ltd.)

By Justin Goulet

Province announces $30 million for commercial truck driver training

Mar 24, 2022 | 12:15 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The provincial government is providing a boost to the commercial trucking industry.

Commercial driving grants totalling $30 million will be distributed over the next three years. The province says the grants will support unemployed and underemployed Albertans returning to the workforce, while ensuring that drivers receive mandatory training before hitting the road.

For the next three years, $10 million will be earmarked each year for the Driving Back to Work grant program. The program helps to cover 90 per cent of Class 1 Mandatory Entry Level Training. Since November 2020, the province has invested $8 million into the program to support 800 underemployed Albertans in completing training to obtain a Class 1 license.

More information about the Driving Back to Work program is available through the province’s website.

Alberta’s Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney said, “we are building on the success of the Driving Back to Work grant program that has helped hundreds of Albertans retrain for a career in the transportation sector.”

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

“It’s important that we continue to support an industry that’s facing a labour shortage by putting more drivers on our roads.”

It is estimated that by 2023, there will be a shortage of about 3,600 commercial drivers in Alberta. More than 50 per cent of all goods in Alberta are delivered by truck.

The province said Thursday that another goal of the $30 million funding shot is to encourage more women to enter the trucking industry. Funding will also go towards online and simulator training.

President and CEO of Women Building Futures, Carol Moen said the province’s “investment in women in the commercial driving industry shows that representation matters and truly makes a difference.”

“A career behind the wheel provides exceptional opportunities for our graduates to reach financial independence.”

Additionally, beginning in early 2023, commercial drivers will have the option to do their Class 1 road test in either an automatic or manual transmission vehicle. The province said this change recognizes the reality of the modern trucking industry, “where more than half of the trucks on Alberta roads have automatic transmissions.” Drivers who are tested and passed on an automatic transmission will be limited to only driving automatic trucks.