The Canadian province of Alberta is amending its driver eligibility criteria to allow Ukraine evacuees to obtain a Class 1 driver’s license.
The province currently has a shortage of 4,000 commercial truck drivers, which has been a factor in ongoing supply chain issues over the past few years, according to the government.
The amendment to the Class 1 Experience and Equivalency Program will allow Ukraine evacuees who hold or have held category CE licences, to reduce the time and cost to obtain their Alberta Class 1 driver’s licences.
“Allowing Ukrainian evacuees with truck driving experience to enter the commercial driving industry is a win-win,” said the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen. “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.”
Ukrainian driver licensing standards meet or exceed Alberta’s standards in most cases, particularly in driver training requirements.
Ukrainian drivers with five or more years of equivalent experience ,within the last 10 years, are eligible for a waiver from the Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) program. Ukrainian drivers with between two and five years of driving experience will need to take the Class 1 Experience and Equivalency Program, which includes 40 hours of training.
“Accelerated training for Ukrainian evacuee commercial truck drivers will alleviate the province wide shortage,” said Chair, Alberta Motor Transport Association, Tim Bennett. “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.”
In other news, Dimerco has announced a partnership with Acer and Cathay Cargo to reduce emissions in aviation.