Alberta’s government is addressing the ongoing shortage of commercial truck drivers by offering accelerated training programs to qualified Ukrainian evacuees, allowing them to obtain their Alberta Class 1 driver’s licences more quickly and cost-effectively.
The province is currently grappling with a shortage of about 4,000 truck drivers, a gap that has contributed to supply chain challenges affecting a wide range of industries. The lack of drivers has led to increased costs for businesses and consumers alike, making it a critical issue for the provincial economy.
In response, the Alberta government has amended the eligibility criteria for its Class 1 Experience and Equivalency Program. The new rules will allow Ukrainian evacuees with prior truck driving experience to reduce the time and cost required to become licensed in Alberta. The changes will also expand the Driving Back to Work (DBTW) grant criteria to include Ukrainian evacuees.
Devin Dreeshen, Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, emphasized the dual benefits of the program: “Allowing Ukrainian evacuees with truck driving experience to enter the commercial driving industry is a win-win. It will help alleviate the ongoing driver shortage and support evacuees from Ukraine who have had so much to deal with over the past two and a half years.”
Under the program, Ukrainian drivers with five or more years of equivalent experience within the last decade may qualify for a waiver from the Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) program. Those with two to five years of experience will be required to complete 40 hours of training under the Class 1 Experience and Equivalency Program. All participants must still pass Alberta’s Class 1 driver’s knowledge and road tests, undergo a vision screening, submit a medical assessment, and complete air brake training.
Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, the parliamentary secretary for Settlement Services and Ukrainian Evacuees, highlighted the importance of this initiative in helping evacuees integrate into Alberta’s workforce while maintaining safety standards. “Alberta’s government is committed to supporting evacuees fleeing the war in Ukraine, and helping them resettle in our province while maintaining safety on Alberta roads,” she said. “By enabling qualified Ukrainian evacuees to obtain their Alberta Class 1 driver’s licences, we are providing them with valuable employment opportunities while also strengthening our supply chains.”
The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) also expressed support for the initiative. Tim Bennett, chair of the AMTA, noted that the program will have a significant impact on the province’s supply chain. “Accelerated training for Ukrainian evacuee commercial truck drivers will alleviate the provincewide shortage,” he said. “Having worked in conditions almost identical to those in Canada, these experienced commercial drivers are a natural choice to get behind the wheel and keep Alberta’s supply chains flowing.”
The Alberta government plans to monitor the competency of drivers trained under this program and may consider expanding Class 1 driver licence recognition to other foreign countries in the future to further address the truck driver shortage.
The province’s efforts to integrate Ukrainian evacuees into the workforce are part of a broader strategy to bolster Alberta’s economy while providing meaningful support to those displaced by conflict. As of April 4, more than 60,000 Ukrainian evacuees have registered with Alberta Health in 210 communities across the province.