New pathways for farmers, family members and farm workers to obtain a Class 1 licence
As of April 1, 2025, Alberta has replaced the Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) program with the new Class 1 Learning Pathway. This is meant to be a modernized approach to MELT and introduces more flexibility for farmers, their family members and farm employees, while still ensuring safe and competent training for drivers.
A look back:
July 2018 – The Alberta government announce that as of March 1, 2019 mandatory entry level training would be required for all new Class 1 drivers in Alberta; introducing a lengthy and expensive ($10, 000) classroom training component to the previous requisites.
February 2019 – Hearing concerns from farmers to meet the proposed timeline for all new family members/farmer workers to get Class 1 MELT training against seeding and harvest pressures; Alberta Grains worked with the Alberta Transportation for special considerations and an extension was granted as a transitional measure
January 2021 – Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT program introduced; supports reduced training hours for Class 3 drivers including family and farm workers.
February 2021 – Farmer extension ended. Alberta Grains continued to work with Alberta Transportation to address systematic issues and minimize impacts on farmers.
April 2024 – Farm-restricted Class 1 driver’s licence (Class 1 P) was introduced, allowing eligible farmer and immediate family members to obtain a farm-restricted Class 1 without completing the full pre-licencing training
April 2025 – Government of Alberta announces the new Class 1 Learning Pathway program to replace MELT as of October 1, 2025.
What has changed for farmers, family members and farm workers:
Under the new Class 1 Learning Pathway, farmers will have further choices and flexibility for perusing their restricted or un-restricted Class 1 licence. There are options centered around providing a staged approach, andr reducing initial time and costs.
The new Learning Pathway for new Class 1 drivers, which would include farm-workers, farmers and family members who want to remove Class 1 P restrictions includes the following:
- Class 1 Entry Program (40 hours online Learning Management System)
- Core Learning Program (in-cab instruction 60 hours, plus air-brakes)
- Knowledge and Road Test – to obtain a provincially restricted Class 1 driver’s licence
- Competence Building Program (max. 25 hours) to have provincial restriction removed.
Other pathways to a Class 1 restricted or unrestricted licence for farmers include:
Pathway 1: Farmer-restricted Class 1 driver’s licence – (Class 1 P) still an option for farmers and immediate family members to drive to and from your farm after one year, you can enroll in the Pathway Program to get unrestricted.
Pathway 2: Class 1 P drivers, can have restrictions removed – If a Class 1 P driver has 12 months of experience with a farm-restricted Class 1 P licence, the restriction can be removed through the completion of the Competence Building Program (maximum 25 hours, $2500)
Pathway 3: Class 1 P drivers, less than 12 months – are required to complete the full Class 1 Learning Pathway to have restrictions removed.
Pathway 3: New, Unrestricted Class 1 – for farm workers, farmers or family members wanting to pursue an unrestricted Class 1 will have to pursue the entire Learning Pathway, highlighted above.
Pathway 4: Experience and Equivalency Program – drivers with a Class 3 driver’s licence and at least 2 years of experience driving (3 or more axles) can apply by email to be considered for this program to obtain their Class 1 licence.
Benefits of the new pathway for farmers:
The hope of the new pathway system is that it will allow farmer, family members and farm workers some flexibility in being able to stage their pathway to Class 1 allowing for time and costs to be spread out. It allows for options that can serve immediate and longer-term needs of farms and their employees. Farmers are rewarded for experience through the restricted Class 1 and then can expediate training into the future to obtain the full, unrestricted class. Completion of the full Class 1 pathway will provide the advanced skills to drive anywhere in Canada or the USA.
While, farmers have voiced concerns about training availability, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors have assured us that they are dedicated to improving capacity by: lifting the pause on new instructor licences allowing more schools and trainer availability, monitoring training challenges and hiring new trainers, and are always open to having facilities, like post-secondary institutes, apply as training providers by contacting Transportation and Economic Corridors at the email below.
Alberta Grains is always open to hearing about farmers experiences with Class 1 and other licensing concerns as we continue to advocate for streamlined and efficient business processes that minimize regulatory and administrative burdens for the farmers we represent.
Please direct any specific questions to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors by email at: TEC.LicensingTraining@gov.ab.ca