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About Class 1 Mandatory Entry Level Training (melt)

A smiling professional female driver in a blue safety vest standing with arms crossed in front of a Valley Driving School semi-truck.

Recently, the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure and ICBC announced that British Columbia’s (BC) highways will be safer for everyone with the introduction of mandatory entry-level training (MELT) for new class 1 commercial driver’s licence applicants. This training requirement is for new class 1 trucking industry applicants.

BC’s program will exceed the minimum requirements set by the National Safety Code Standard for entry-level training of class 1 drivers.

MELT for class 1 driver’s licence applicants will become a prerequisite for class 1 road testing starting Oct. 18, 2021. BC’s program will include best practices from other Canadian jurisdictions, and emphasize safe operating practices for mountainous geography and diverse driving conditions to ensure commercial drivers are prepared for BC’s highway network and the changing weather patterns encountered in the mountains.

British Columbia’s class 1 MELT program for new drivers of heavy commercial vehicles stipulates a minimum required number of practical behind-the-wheel (in-cab) driving hours, in-yard hours and theoretical instructional hours. ICBC is the regulatory body for driver training schools and instructors in BC and have consulted with the commercial driving industry, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to finalize the curriculum.


This extensive training program builds an abundance of on-the-job skills and exposes graduates to experiences that could otherwise take years to obtain. Develop practical workforce skills by training for your Air Brake Endorsement, learn detailed pre-trip inspection training, and become well versed in uncoupling & coupling the trailer. This program also includes extensive backing practice: using a 53 foot trailer to give you a high level of training, and mountain driving experience: emphasizing safe operating practices for B.C.’s mountainous geography, diverse climate conditions, and highlighting the unique driving conditions that can occur in other jurisdictions.

ICBC REQUIREMENTS:

  • To qualify for an ICBC class 1 road test, all training sessions as well as 14 practical and 3 written assessments, must be successfully completed within one year
  • Written assessments require a strong understanding of the English language
  • Successful completion of 2 online courses
  • Automatic transmission training cannot exceed 10 hours, even when testing in an automatic truck
  • Course curriculum dictates time allocated for pre-trip inspections, coupling/sliding, backing, and driving

Need more information or have more questions about MELT? Check out our FAQs or contact us.

Daytime, weekend and evening availability is recommended for this 8-12 week program and students can expect to attend various activities 3-5 days per week. To discuss start dates, please LiveChat or call us at 604-856-0115.

A white Valley Driving School semi-truck and trailer with blue branding parked on a paved road alongside a grassy field with yellow wildflowers.

Buckle up!

With a class 1 licence in BC, you can drive:

Semi-trailer trucks
All other motor vehicles or combinations of vehicles
Does not include motorcycle

What it takes

To qualify for the class 1 MELT program, you must meet these safety and experience requirements:

Be at least 19 years old
Hold or have held a full-privilege licence that is a minimum of a class 5 or class 6, or an out-of-province equivalent
Fewer than four penalty point offences in the last two years and zero motor-vehicle-related Criminal Code convictions in the last three years.
Have no outstanding debt or tickets with ICBC or the province

What’s Included

Coaching based training, engaged learning & a unique reporting system that allows students to easily track their progress are all part of this training program & key to success.

14 theory sessions (52.5 hours)
8 yard sessions (16 hours)
19 in-cab sessions (70 hours)
Mountain and highway driving trips
Use of our truck for the ICBC road test
Student Manual (500 pages)
Exclusive job board access

Invest in your future with over 150 hours of expert instruction designed for your success.


pROGRAM Price $15,400

Steps for success

To get a class 1 licence in BC, follow these steps:

Book & pass the class 1 written test at ICBC
Apply for a class 1 learner’s licence and pass vision and medical screening
Enroll in & successfully complete the MELT program
Pass the class 1 ICBC road test
Complete a medical exam and submit the Driver’s Medical Examination Report form to ICBC
Receive your class 1 licence from ICBC

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Experience the road with confidence

Valley Driving School has approachable, exceptional instructors that can teach you the skills you need.