Education · 1 of 4

The path

The shortest route on this site.

1. 1

   Full driver's licence

   Before you start

   A regular Class G (Ontario) or Class 5 licence, age 18 or older. Cross-border work into the US requires age 21.

2. 2

   Entry-level training

   1 to 2 months

   Most provinces now require a training course before the Class 1 (called AZ in Ontario) licence test. Ontario's MELT (mandatory entry-level training) is about 100 hours over roughly 4 to 6 weeks.

3. 3

   Medical and written knowledge test

   Days

   A doctor confirms you are fit to drive commercially. Then the written test on rules and air brakes.

4. 4

   Road test

   1 day

   Pre-trip inspection, backing, and an on-road test in a tractor-trailer.

5. 5

   First job

   Weeks

   Most new drivers start local or regional. Some carriers require a year of experience before long-haul.