Saskatchewan Government Insurance is considering standardized training for Class 1 commercial drivers in the province.
The government says SGI has been working with industry and stakeholders to discuss implement standardized training for Class 1 drivers. The consultations began in July. SGI is looking at the curriculum and the number of hours that training should be required before getting a Class 1 license.
Class 1 licenses allow permit holders to drive power units and semi-trailers.
Murray Coleman, driver supervisor with Bison Transport, supports the idea of better training.
“It’s not a walk in, grab your license and go,” he said.
Currently, drivers can get a Class 1 license through a written test and road exam.
“You’ve got to know your brake system, your air brake system,” Murray said. “You got to know the rules of the road. A lot of it is you got to respect other drivers that are on that road.”
Some companies do have their own training programs in place. But, the Saskatchewan Trucking Association says it’s not a requirement.
“There’s so much regulation, and standards and weights and dimensions that you have to know,” said Nicole Sinclair, director of policy and communications with the Saskatchewan Trucking Association. “That needs to be part of the training as well.”
Ontario is the only jurisdiction in Canada that requires mandatory training.
No decision has been made at this point to introduce standardized Class 1 training in Saskatchewan.
With files from CTV Regina's Colton Wiens
