IMPORTANT NOTE

In order to take driver training, each student must have in their possession a valid learners license for the desired class. In order to take the driving test you must have successfully completed the air brake knowledge test at ICBC.  Also you must not have any encumbrances such as outstanding violation tickets that cannot be paid for since you will not be permitted to take the road test.

Air Brake Courses

The air brake course can be either certified or uncertified depending on your situation at the time. We recommend the certified course because you can place the endorsement on your current driver's license.

The air brake endorsement is necessary if you are planning to upgrade your driver's license to class 1, 2 or 3 and therefore it is a prerequisite for any driver training with this school.

The air brake course consists of 16 hours of theory and 4 hours of practical training. The theory portion of this course is in a classroom setting and consists of two 8-hour days usually over a weekend and the practical portion consists of 4 hours in a group setting with a maximum of 5 students at a time.

The equipment used in the instruction is standard equipment found on most air braked vehicles and is designed to teach both single and dual systems. A brake stand is used to demonstrate and practice brake adjustments as well as to show what actually happens inside a brake drum. This does not replace the 4-hour practical portion on the vehicle but it does allow for the brake adjustment to be made in relatively pristine conditions.

Driver Instruction

While the school offers class 1, 2 & 3 drivers training, arrangements can be made for a class 4.

Class 1 instruction is provided using a tandem axle tractor and a 45ft trailer with a load giving a 70% GVRW or 70% of the maximum permissible load as required by ICBC.

The ICBC examiner conducts road tests Monday through Friday.

The instruction covers the pretrip inspection and indicates to the student what to check and why and what to look for in case something that may fail later.

The training continues with driving the tractor unit first in order to learn to shift the gears (double clutching) after which the trailer will be coupled to the tractor. The safe coupling and uncoupling of the trailer is taught and is a mandatory part of the road test.

Over the period of the next few days you will drive in the city, make right hand and left hand turns, anticipate traffic lights and generally learn to drive the vehicle in the city. While at times you will be on the test route, you will not be taught the test route as this is contrary to the law (section 27 MVA). You will practice backing straight and round a corner and learn how to be a defensive driver that will allow you to drive with more confidence in the city environment.

Mountain runs are not part of the training before your test but are available once you have obtained your class 1 license.

The time expected for this course is 20 hours.

Class 2 driving instruction uses a 49-passenger bus with air brakes that is usually required by school boards. The training consists of a full pretrip inspection and driving in a busy and not so busy part of the city.

The usual time required for this program is 10 hours.

Class 3 driving instruction utilizes the tractor only and is a short course for those intending to drive a tandem truck. Other that gear shifting and the extra size of the vehicle, there is nothing extra special about the driving. You still have to perform the pretrip inspection and know the vehicle's air brake system. A road test is conducted by ICBC Monday through Friday.

The time taken for this course is usually 12 hours.

Mountain Run

The mountain run will include either Blue Berry Polson or the Anakist Hill.  The run provides real world practice driving a loaded rig under full control of the vehicle, through BC's vast and rugged terrain.  Drivers will be instructed on maintaining a logbook for duration of the mountain run.   

The mountain run varies from 10 hours to 3 days in duration depending on the route taken. The one day run will take you to the Anarchist Hill to Osoyoos and the other runs will take you to Castlegar and as far as Cranbrook and includes the blueberry Polson and the Kootenay Pass. You will get a good idea of driving a loaded rig down a long steep hill under full control of the vehicle.

You will run your own logbook because you will have your own full license when you make the trip.

Transportation of Dangerous Goods

This course provides the participants the basic knowledge for the certificate.  It is not a WHIMIS course and only relates to those items that drivers are required to know:

·         Regarding paper work

·         Reporting of dangerous occurrences

·         Various classifications of dangerous goods.

This certificate is only good if it is signed by your employer and expires in three years.

Evaluations and Appraisals 

Evaluations cover pretrip in-service inspections include air brakes and vehicle safety as well as driver skill. This is a valued service for providing information for pre employment, corporate employee improvements and annual insurance evaluations.

Letters of Reference

Students that qualify can get a letter of reference relating to the time they attended the training course provided by our school.