Class 3 Driving School
Your Class 3 Licence. Your Career on the Road.
A class 3 licence is one of the most versatile commercial credentials you can hold in British Columbia — and the careers that come with it are as varied as the roads you’ll travel. Heavy-duty tow truck driver, dump truck driver, garbage truck driver, recycling truck driver, cement truck driver, water truck driver, vacuum truck driver, pumper truck operator, crane truck operator, and firefighter. All of these in-demand, well-paying careers across the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland start with a class 3 licence.
Whether you’re planning to serve your community as a firefighter in Abbotsford or Chilliwack, haul materials to construction sites as a dump truck driver in Surrey or Langley, deliver concrete as a cement truck driver, or build a long-term career in waste management or towing — the class 3 is your starting point. Valley Driving School offers three class 3 programs to match your vehicle type, your schedule, and your career goals.
Not sure which program is right for you? Our blog post Comparing class 3 Automatic vs. Standard is a great place to start, and you can explore the full range of class 3 driving careers in BC before you register.
Have questions, or not sure where to start? Contact us to find the right fit for your learning and licensing goals!
Class 3 Programs
Air Brake Theory Course
A theory course covering the principles of air brake systems, preparing you for the ICBC Air Brake knowledge test. Not required if you already hold a BC driver’s licence with an Air Brake Endorsement (Code 15).
$220
Class 3 Automatic
For automatic transmission vehicles. Many class 3 vehicles, including firetrucks and certain dump trucks, come equipped with automatic transmissions. Includes 12 hours of pre-trip and on-road training, exclusive job board access, and use of our truck for the ICBC road test.
$1799
Class 3 Standard
For standard transmission vehicles. Training covering garbage trucks, recycling trucks, heavy-duty tow trucks, dump trucks, cement trucks, pumper trucks, and crane trucks. Includes 20 hours of pre-trip and on-road training, exclusive job board access, and use of our truck for the ICBC road test.
$2799
Class 3 Career
Our comprehensive career entry program includes the Air Brakes Theory Course, 30 hours of pre-trip and on-road training, 16 hours of Employment Skills classroom courses, exclusive job board access, use of our truck for the ICBC road test.
$4999
What Can You Do With a Class 3 Licence in BC?
A class 3 licence authorizes you to drive trucks with more than two axles, tow vehicles up to 4,600 kg, operate a mobile truck crane, and drive any vehicle included in class 5. In practical terms, it opens the door to a wide range of essential roles that keep BC’s communities running every day.
Here are some of the most popular careers our class 3 graduates pursue:
- Firefighter — Firetrucks are class 3 automatic transmission vehicles, and all pre-hire applications for volunteer and professional fire departments in BC require a minimum class 3 automatic licence. If becoming a firefighter is your goal, the class 3 Automatic program is your essential first step. Read our full guide: How to Become a Firefighter in BC.
- Heavy-Duty Tow Truck Driver — Heavy-duty tow trucks such as integrated trucks, wreckers, and boom trucks are class 3 vehicles, and the towing industry across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley is always looking for qualified, professional drivers. It’s worth noting that light-duty tow trucks like flatbeds and wheel-lifts only require a class 5 — but a class 3 is a strong stepping stone into the industry and opens up significantly more opportunities and earning potential. Read more: How to Become a Tow Truck Driver in BC.
- Dump Truck Driver — Dump truck drivers enjoy flexible hours, local work, and competitive pay at construction sites across the region. Valley has recently added an automatic dump truck to our fleet, making dump truck training more accessible than ever. If you’re unsure which program to choose, the class 3 Standard is the more versatile option — it covers both manual and automatic vehicles and is preferred by many employers. Read more: How to Become a Dump Truck Driver in BC.
- Cement Truck Driver — Cement truck drivers, also known as concrete mixer drivers, transport and deliver concrete to construction sites across BC; from large-scale infrastructure projects to residential and commercial builds. The role requires precision, careful manoeuvring, and specialized knowledge, and typically offers competitive pay and benefits.
- Garbage & Recycling Truck Operator — Municipal and private waste management companies across Abbotsford, Surrey, Langley, Coquitlam, and Chilliwack rely on class 3 drivers to keep communities clean. It’s stable, local work with regular hours and strong wages; and you’re home every night.
- Water & Vacuum Truck Driver — Water trucks, vacuum trucks, and hydrovac units are essential to BC’s construction and resource industries. A class 3 standard licence covers these vehicles and puts you in demand with some of the province’s largest contractors.
- Pumper & Crane Truck Operator — Pumper trucks and crane trucks are common throughout BC’s construction, utilities, and infrastructure sectors and require a class 3 standard licence.
- Semi-Truck Driver (No Trailer) — A class 3 licence also allows you to operate a semi-truck without a trailer, giving you entry-level access to the commercial trucking industry before upgrading to a class 1.
Need to tow a heavier trailer or a pony behind your class 3 vehicle? A class 1 licence will be required. You can start with your class 3, gain industry experience, and upgrade when you’re ready — ICBC allows drivers to obtain a class 3 licence at 18, a full year before the class 1 minimum age of 19.
Buckle up!
With a class 3 licence in BC, you can drive:
What it takes
To qualify for the class 3 program, you must meet these safety and experience requirements:
Steps for success
To get a class 3 licence in BC, follow these steps:
Air Brakes Theory Course not required if you have a BC driver’s licence with an Air Brake Endorsement
Frequently asked Questions
Our class 3 graduates are constantly in demand by the industry’s top recruiters and operators. Our commercial training programs increase your knowledge of the trucking industry and make you a valuable candidate to potential employers. Major companies provide job postings on our exclusive job board, looking to recruit Valley graduates. Valley Driving School graduates are in-demand and sought-after potential employees in the transportation industry.
Automatic and standard transmission training in Kenworth and Peterbilt tractor units are available. Instructors are engaged in your driving development to ensure you receive optimal training with the newest, most relevant information and equipment. This enables our knowledge and fleet to match today’s trucking industry standards for easily translatable skills, experience, and knowledge. We also offer Employment Skills training to make you an even stronger candidate when you enter the job market.
We go one step further by guaranteeing our training, ensuring you are completely satisfied and ready to tackle your new career. Valley Driving School ensures knowledge and skills are acquired at a pace appropriate to individual learners. Our unique brand of extensive training builds endurance as you prepare for life on the road as a commercial truck driver. Class 3 training is part-time at Valley, with start dates available on a continuous and rotating intake. Lessons are available mornings, afternoons, and evenings at any of our Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland locations, including Abbotsford, Langley, Career Centre, Coquitlam, and Chilliwack.
A class 3 licence in BC authorizes you to operate trucks with more than two axles — including dump trucks, heavy-duty tow trucks, garbage trucks, recycling trucks, cement trucks, pumper trucks, and crane trucks — as well as semi-trucks without a trailer, tow vehicles up to 4,600 kg, and any class 5 vehicle. It does not allow you to drive a bus carrying passengers.
A class 3 Standard licence — also known as a class 3 manual or unrestricted — allows you to drive both manual and automatic class 3 vehicles and is the more versatile option, preferred by many employers. A class 3 Automatic is restricted to automatic transmission vehicles only. If you’re applying to be a firefighter or know specifically that you’ll be driving an automatic vehicle, the automatic program is a fit. If you’re unsure of your career path, the standard licence will open more doors. Read our full comparison: class 3 Automatic vs. Standard.
Yes. BC fire departments — both volunteer and professional — require a minimum class 3 automatic licence as part of the pre-hire application process. Firetrucks are typically automatic transmission vehicles, making the class 3 Automatic the right program for aspiring firefighters. Learn more: How to Become a Firefighter in BC.
Yes. The class 3 Career Program typically qualifies for government funding through WorkSafeBC and WorkBC (EI). Visit any of our offices to receive a personalised Acceptance Letter.
