In the entrance hall of the First Class Training Centre—a truck driving school based in Winnipeg—a Humboldt Broncos jersey hangs prominently. For owner and instructor Jim Campbell, it’s more than a keepsake; it’s a constant reminder of the dangers truck drivers face on Canada’s roads.
The memory of the 2018 tragedy still resonates deeply. Sixteen people, including several young hockey players from the Humboldt Broncos, were killed when their bus was struck by a semi-truck. The truck was driven by a foreign driver on his very first solo trip after only two weeks of practical training.
For Campbell, the incident was a turning point. Yet despite the national outcry it sparked, he laments that little has changed since.
After more than 40 years on the road—from northern Manitoba to the southern U.S.—Campbell opened his training centre in 2012. A decade later, he founded the Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada (PTTAC).
His goal: to have truck driving officially recognized as a certified trade, just like electricians or mechanics, through Canada’s Red Seal Program.
The Red Seal Program
The Red Seal is an interprovincial certification standard for skilled trades in Canada. It requires rigorous training, workplace supervision, and standardized exams. Carpenters, bakers, plumbers, and many others must complete a structured learning path with on-the-job experience. The credential is recognized nationwide and serves as a guarantee of competence.
Campbell argues that truck driving should follow this model to eliminate major disparities between provinces. Some drivers obtain their licences after just a few weeks of training, while others undergo more comprehensive instruction. Only a mandatory national standard, he says, can ensure consistent training across the country.
But for the Red Seal to have real impact, it must be required to work in the profession—otherwise, it risks being little more than a symbolic gesture. Moreover, it is not schools that issue the Red Seal certification; even when a training centre follows the Red Seal curriculum, only the government can award the credential after a candidate passes the interprovincial exam.
A Disjointed and Vulnerable System
Currently, the MELT (Mandatory Entry-Level Training) program sets minimum training hours required before obtaining a Class 1 licence—but the standards vary by province. Manitoba requires 121.5 hours, Ontario 103.5, British Columbia 140, and Alberta 113. Quebec, until recently, had no mandatory training at all. According to Campbell, he offers 244 hours of instruction to his students. He estimates the cost at around $9,000, compared to $3,500 to $5,000 in other regions.
This disparity creates an uneven playing field, putting serious schools like Campbell’s at a competitive disadvantage. Why pay more for comprehensive training when it’s cheaper and quicker elsewhere? He also warns of the risks to public safety.
Recent sanctions by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) support his concerns. Between 2023 and 2024, five instructors and four driving schools were penalized for non-compliance, including falsifying records and dishonest conduct. Since launching a MELT compliance program, MPI has received over 50 complaints—in Manitoba alone.
Training as a Tool for Retention and Safety
Campbell isn’t alone in calling for reform. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has also linked driver preparedness to the number of heavy truck accidents. Cecilia Omole, IBC’s senior manager of commercial policy, notes that inexperienced drivers are overrepresented in collisions. Her organization is calling for stricter national standards.
Some carriers, such as Bison Transport and Payne Transportation, already exceed basic requirements, investing in extended onboarding programs, intelligent monitoring systems, and certified training. In Quebec as well, many carriers are known for their commitment to continuous training and only recruit drivers who meet high professional and safety standards.
However, these practices remain the exception.
Momentum Builds, but the Debate Remains
For a trade to become officially Red Seal-certified, five provinces must submit a request. PTTAC has opened discussions with Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia.
Alberta has already started reforming its model with a tiered approach. The final step could be Red Seal certification, if more provinces follow. Alberta’s Transport Minister, Devin Dreeshen, sees the designation as a way to elevate the profession and attract new drivers—critical when the province is short 4,500 truckers.
Alternative Proposals
Not everyone agrees. According to Aaron Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association, truck driving’s reality—where mentorship happens mostly after licensing—doesn’t align well with the Red Seal model. He suggests a national designation tailored to trucking that would harmonize training without disconnecting from industry needs.
Still, he admits the current system allows prospective drivers to “shop” for the easiest training options nationwide. “If one province sets lower standards, that’s where people will go. The lowest common denominator ends up shaping the industry,” he says.
Sandeep Dhaliwal, a truck driver who completed MELT, has expressed similar concerns in public forums. He believes too many underqualified drivers are on the roads and hopes a more rigorous system would help screen out unmotivated candidates and improve safety overall.
Quebec Moving Toward Reform
Until now, Quebec had no minimum training requirement for obtaining a Class 1 licence—a gap that set it apart from other provinces. However, in June 2024, Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault announced the introduction of a new standard: 125 hours of mandatory training (85 hours theory + 40 hours practical) aligned with Standard 16 of the Canadian National Safety Code, to be implemented by 2025. This move is also part of broader efforts to combat the “Chauffeur Inc.” scheme and to strengthen pre-licensing oversight.
Quebec also offers publicly funded training. Professional training centres like CFTR and CFTC provide a 615-hour Truck Transport Diploma Program (DEP), which spans approximately five months and is fully subsidized for eligible residents. This advanced training far exceeds the minimum requirement and represents a powerful tool to prepare drivers for the realities of the trade.
If Red Seal certification became the national standard, graduates of Quebec’s public training programs should qualify without needing additional assessment. This would acknowledge their comprehensive education and help unify skill standards across Canada.
Reducing Trade Barriers Through National Standards
As provincial premiers and the federal government continue to explore harmonized training standards to reduce interprovincial barriers and improve labour mobility, Campbell’s proposal deserves serious consideration. Exploring models like the Red Seal may be a concrete step toward professionalizing the trucking industry and improving long-term road safety for all.
Note : Some of the information and figures in this article were originally reported by the Winnipeg Free Press and are presented here with additional context and analysis.
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