Training for obtaining a Class 1 driver’s licence

Step 1. Complete MELT program

You must successfully complete training delivered by an Alberta licensed driver training school. Refer to the list to find a school that provides a Class 1 MELT program. Not every school offers every MELT program.

• Class 1 MELT program will take 113 hours to complete. This total does not include the Air Brake program, which is approximately 8.5 additional hours.
• Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT program will take 40 hours to complete. This total does not include the Air Brake program, which is approximately 8.5 additional hours. For details on the program eligibility, read the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT section below.

Classroom training

The standardized classroom session is:

• Class 1: 40.5 hours
• Experience and Equivalence Class 1: 11 hours

To get a Class 1 driver’s licence, you must first successfully complete the air brake program to get your Q-endorsement.

In-yard training

The standardized in-yard training session is:

• Class 1: 15.5 hours
• Experience and Equivalency Class 1: 6.5 hours

Practical training

The standardized practical training session is:

• Class 1: 57 hours
• Experience and Equivalency Class 1: 22.5 hours

Costs

To ensure training costs are fair and accessible, the maximum amount a driver training school or organization can charge is:

• up to $10,000 for Class 1 MELT
• up to $4,000 for Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT

Driver training providers may choose to charge less, depending on their organization.

Step 2. Pass driver's knowledge test

Upon successfully completing the classroom portion of a MELT program you are eligible to attempt the Class 1 driver's knowledge test at an Alberta registry agent. To attempt the knowledge test you must have:

• a completed Classroom Evaluation Form showing 80% or higher on the classroom assessments, or
• have a MELT designation on your driving record indicating you have completed a MELT program in its entirety.

Step 3. Schedule road test

You have the option to schedule a Class 1 MELT driver's road test (as applicable) through the Alberta Road Test Scheduler online or in person at any Alberta registry agent.

You must provide a vehicle for the road test that meets all legal requirements and has the following configuration.

Class 1

• a tractor-trailer with gross vehicle weight of at least 11,794 kg and a:
  • 13-speed manual transmission
  • full air brake system on both tractor and trailer (requires the Q-endorsement)
  • minimum tandem axle tractor and a tandem axle trailer
  • fifth wheel coupling device
  • single trailer with a minimum length of 48 feet and a minimum distance of 35 feet measured from the kingpin to the centre of each rear axle

Step 4. Pass road test

You must pass the pre-trip inspection and the driver’s road test.

Step 5. Go to the registry agent

Once you have passed the pre-trip inspection and road test, you can go to any Alberta registry agent to get your Class 1 driver’s licence.

Canadian jurisdictions with MELT

If you have successfully completed an equivalent MELT program in another Canadian jurisdiction, you are not required to take Alberta’s MELT program or the MELT knowledge or road tests to get an Alberta Class 1 or Class 2 driver’s licence.

Canadian jurisdictions without MELT programs

Drivers with a Class 1 driver’s licence for more than 24 months

If you have held a Class 1 driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction for more than 24 months when you apply for an Alberta driver’s licence, you are not required to take Alberta’s MELT program or the MELT knowledge or road test.

Drivers with a Class 1 driver’s licence for 12 to 24 months

If you have held a Class 1 driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction for 12 to 24 months when you apply for an Alberta driver’s licence, you can choose to:

• pass the Class 1 MELT knowledge and road tests
  • if you fail either of these tests on the first attempt you must complete Alberta’s MELT program, or
• complete Alberta’s MELT Program and take the Class 1 MELT knowledge and road tests

Drivers with a Class 1 driver’s licence for less than 12 months

If you have held your Class 1 driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction for less than 12 months when you apply for an Alberta driver’s licence, you must complete Alberta’s MELT Program prior to taking the MELT knowledge and road tests.

Drivers with a Quebec Class 1 Licence

Drivers who have a Quebec Class 1 licence may apply for an Alberta Class 1 driver’s licence without having to take an Alberta Class 1 MELT course or the Class 1 MELT knowledge and road tests if they have:

• completed a vocational training program, and
• hold a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) in truck transportation (for Class 1 only) issued by Quebec’s Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur.

You must provide proof of successful completion by presenting a registry agent with a copy of the transcript or the Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) in truck transportation.

Transfer to other jurisdictions

Class 1 driver’s licences earned through the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program in Alberta may not be transferable to other jurisdictions (provinces and territories) where MELT designations are required. If you are looking to transfer your Alberta driver’s licence to other Canadian jurisdictions, check with them to determine their requirements.

This does not affect interprovincial travel while you remain an Alberta resident.

Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program

To recognize the experience gained by drivers operating commercial trucks, a shorter version of the Class 1 MELT program is available.

The Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program fees are capped at $4,000.

For more information on the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program, read the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program Overview.

To take the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program, drivers must:

Step 1. Apply to Transportation and Economic Corridors

To apply, please submit a completed Experience and Equivalency Class 1 Mandatory Entry Level Training Application to trans.driver.prog@gov.ab.ca.

To be eligible, drivers must:

• have a valid Alberta Class 1, 2 or 3 driver’s licence
• have held an Alberta Class 1, 2 or 3 driver’s licence or the equivalent driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction for 2 or more years
• have 2 or more years of work experience operating a motor vehicle with 3 or more axles

As part of the application, you will need to submit documentation that demonstrates experience.

Step 2. Receive approval from Transportation and Economic Corridors

You will receive an emailed response approving or denying your eligibility after your application has been reviewed.

Step 3. Provide approval to driver training school to schedule training

You must provide the approval to the driver training school before they will schedule you for the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program.

Effective April 1, 2024, upon successful completion of a Class 1 knowledge and road test, vision screening, and submission of a driver’s medical assessment, eligible farmers and their immediate family members may apply for a farm-restricted Class 1 driver’s licence with condition code “P”, indicating they must comply with farmer restrictions. The driver will not be required to complete pre-licensing training.

This Class 1 farm-restricted driver’s licence is valid only when operating vehicles or combinations of vehicles for specified farming purposes. For more information, see Farm-Restricted Class 1 Driver’s Licence.

• Farm-restricted Class 1 drivers may also be subject to driver’s licence code restriction “N” which means the holder may not operate vehicles or combinations of vehicles which require a Class 2 or 4 driver’s licence unless that person has completed the required knowledge and road tests as well as completed any other conditions of a Class 2 or 4 driver’s licence.

For more information, see Farm-Restricted Class 1 Driver’s Licence.

• Commercial truck driver training course (Class 1): course delivery guidelines and curriculum
• Commercial truck driver training course (Class 1): curriculum development standards
• Commercial truck driver training course: Class 1 presentation

• Commercial truck driver training course – Experience and Equivalency Class 1: Guidelines and curriculum
• Commercial truck driver training course – Experience and Equivalency Class 1: Curriculum development standards
• Commercial truck driver training course: Experience and Equivalency Class 1 presentation

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-8230
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: tec.driver.prog@gov.ab.ca

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 403-297-6679
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: tec.driver.prog@gov.ab.ca

Address:
Examinations, Licensing and Support:
1st Floor, Willowglen Business Park
803 Manning Road NE
Calgary, Alberta  T2E 7M8