Saskatchewan is set to become the first Canadian jurisdiction where people can take Class One truck driving classroom training online.
Truck drivers needing this license have to complete 121.5 total hours of mandatory entry-level training, or MELT, including 47 in the classroom, another 17.5 of training in yard and another 57 hours behind the wheel.
Starting March 29th, people will be able to do the classroom part online, before doing the driving test portion of their learning.
 Levi Wood, a farmer in the province and a member of an agriculture panel that was consulted on MELT, says that the program offers flexibility for learning drivers, especially for those in rural Saskatchewan or those coming to the province for work.
SGI says offering this training online will allow people to work at their pace, and it follows all the same curriculum as an in-person class.
“F” endorsement no longer exists for truck drivers as well
Along with this announcement, SGI says the “F” endorsement for truck drivers no longer exists either.
Anyone who previously held this endorsement must do this 121.5-hour training program, and temporary foreign workers cannot use their existing out of country licence in place of a Saskatchewan class one.
Drivers who come from a country where Saskatchewan has a reciprocal licensing agreement will be able to challenge the Class 1 written and practical exams without completing training if they can prove five years of Class 1 driving experience. If they do not, they’ll need to complete this course before attempting the Class 1 exams.
None of this will impact drivers who have already received a class one driver’s certification.
The online class will cost $650 and must be completed one year after a driver begins it.
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Update/Clarification: This article has been updated to make more clear that the classroom part of learning is what will be taught online.Â