The description is detailed for Manitoba. In other provinces, it may be similar, but the offices will have different names.
On September 1, 2019, Manitoba introduced the obligation to complete the MELT (Mandatory Entry-Level Training) course for all candidates for professional drivers. Those who obtained their Class 1 driving license before that date may retain their entitlement, while all other applicants must undergo this training to be admitted to the driving test. The exceptions are people who:
They already have a valid driving license from other Canadian provinces, where MELT (Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta) is also good, and drivers from the USA. After proving a minimum of 24 months of experience, you can exchange your current driving license for one issued by Manitoba without any exams.
Drivers with 12-24 months of experience from the province mentioned above or the USA are exempt from participating in the MELT training course and can obtain a driving license after passing the exam (the maximum number of attempts is 2, afterward, a MELT course must be completed)
Drivers with less than 12 months of experience or drivers with a driving license from other provinces and countries than those mentioned above must go all the way from the beginning and complete the MELT training in total.
There are two types of Mandatory Entry-Level Training in Manitoba. The first, required as an absolute minimum, take 121.5 clock hours and consists of theory, driving time, and observation. The second, the 244h Entry Level Program, lasts exactly 244 clock hours (6 weeks, 40 hours a week, the remaining 4 hours make up 2 MPI practice tests included in the course fee).
The first requirement to obtain a Class 1 driving license is the minimum age of 18 and a driving license for passenger cars (Class 5). After that, you should make an appointment with a doctor and undergo tests that determine your ability to work in this profession. This generally costs around $ 100-120. Then you have to pass theoretical tests in the knowledge of regulations and a general understanding of trucks, and knowledge of air brakes (Air Brakes). To do this, go to your local MPI or Autopac office and enroll in the Class 1 Knowledge Test and Air Brake Knowledge Test. Both tests are 30 minutes each and can usually be run one after the other. Cost of one test up to $ 10. Class 1 Knowledge Test consists of 30 questions, while Air Brake test – 20, and it is required to obtain at least 80% correct answers from each of them. In case of failure, you can repeat the test after paying another fee, and it can take place no earlier than the next business day. The tests are computer-based at local MPI offices and based on two books. You can get them for $ 10 each at any Autopac office or download them for free as a PDF from the MPI website:
Professional Driver’s Manual
https://www.mpi.mb.ca/Documents/ProfDriverHBookComp.pdf
Air Brake Manual
https://www.mpi.mb.ca/Documents/AirBrakeManualNEW.pdf
After passing both tests and presenting the medical examination results at the MPI premises, the candidate for a driver receives the so-called Class 1A License, which means permission to study behind the wheel. With this license, you can start looking for a driving school right for you. A list of all schools approved by MPI to conduct the MELT program can be found in the link below under the Training Providers tab:
https://www.mpi.mb.ca/Pages/mandatory-entry-level-training.aspx
Co-financing possible
Both the cost of the MELT course and the 244h Entry Level course may turn out to be an insurmountable barrier. The introductory 121-hour course costs from $ 5,500 to as much as $8,000, depending on the school and mode of instruction. In this case, most schools do not include the exam cost in the course fee. In the Manitoba Road Test, I feel like my (or rented) vehicle must meet certain conditions (e.g., 13-speed manual gearbox). Schools mainly carry out the rental of such vehicles for tests, and the price of such rental for one exam ranges from $ 450 to $ 500 (renting a tractor, trailer, and an instructor who will take the kit to the location where the test will be carried out).
The 244h Entry Level course cost is higher, around $ 8500- $ 9000. Comparing both programs, for people new to the industry, the 244h Entry Level program – despite the higher price – seems to be a more sensible option, as it offers twice as many training hours and has two practical exam attempts included. Hence, the school provides vehicle rental included in the course price.
In the case of the 244h Entry Level course, it has recently also been possible to subsidize its costs. After receiving the Class 1A license and the school acceptance letter, start completing the rest of the documents, such as:
- Resume
- Driver’s Abstract from MPI
- Criminal Record from Canada
- PR Card or Canadian Passport
- Document entitling to cross the border with the USA
- Driver’s Abstract z MPI
- Zaświadczenie o niekaralności z Kanady
- PR Card lub kanadyjski Paszport
- Dokument uprawniający do przekraczania granicy z USA
A letter of intent from a potential employer.
After collecting all the documents, contact the nearest Manitoba Jobs and Skill Development Center office and arrange an interview with a consultant. Such a conversation usually lasts several minutes. The consultant asks a question about the candidate’s professional plans for a career in this industry and, on this basis, decides on funding. If you are working full-time throughout your application, you may also be authorized to leave your current job and receive unemployment benefits for the duration of your course.
The most difficult task seems to be obtaining a letter of intent from an employer before accepting a driving license. However, such an Acceptance Letter is the essential document during an interview at MB Jobs and Skills because the consultant has a guarantee that the candidate for funding will have a guaranteed job. In addition, many schools also cooperate with transport companies ready to hire graduates of a given school. Therefore, it is worth asking the person responsible for recruitment in the selected school whether they offer help in the so-called Job placement. Below is a list of employers who work with the Manitoba Trucking Association and post job offers for driver candidates who will go through the recruitment process:
https://www.trucking.mb.ca/membership
In addition, several companies in Manitoba offer a Mentorship Program for new drivers. It consists in the fact that the driver, freshly after receiving the license, for the first few weeks works in a team with an experienced driver – mentor learns about various aspects of the industry, such as customs declarations at the border, working hours, etc. Then, after a positive opinion from the mentor, he starts driving as a single driver. Companies that offer the Mentorship Program include Arnold Bros Transport, Bison Transport and Len Dubois Transport in Winnipeg, and Steve’s Livestock Transport in Steinbach.
