Ontario’s mandatory entry-level training (MELT) standard went into effect on July 2017. Since than, the Canadian trucking industry has been trying hard to get the rest of Canada on board with a national training standard for entry-level truck drivers. Finally, on January 21st, Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau and his provincial counterparts promised to implement a national training standard by 2020.
Employers have reported having better-prepared driver applicants and are satisfied with the new standard. Now they can proceed into the workplace with basic trucking skills. With some additional training, they have the opportunity to become very qualified and skilled drivers.
Saskatchewan and Alberta plan to implement standards of their own in the spring. Western plans were announced in the wake of last April’s bus-truck crash in Saskatchewan that killed 16 people on a Humboldt Broncos bus. That collision, along with a recent Ottawa bus crash that killed three people, was cited by the ministers as a reminder that more needs to be done in the name of highway safety.
For now, we wait in hopes that the nationwide training standards for entry-level drivers will be implemented successfully. After the standard basic training, it will be the employers responsibility to follow up with further on-the-job training and mentoring. Sending unprepared and undertrained drivers out onto the highway needs to stop. Its about time that truck drivers get the recognition as a skilled trade that they deserve. Once training is achieved, this can start to happen.
Are you looking for Tractor-Trailer AZ Training? Contact us at 519-650-6040 or email: info@chectraining.com, and we can provide you with the information you need.
Sources:
James Menzie: Truck News: https://www.trucknews.com/blogs/national-training-standard-a-long-time-coming/
John G Smith: Today's Trucking: https://www.todaystrucking.com/national-truck-driver-training-standard-in-works-but-will-it-be-mandatory/
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