How to get a Class 1 licence in BC

Q: What do you need to get in?

Minimum 19 years of age; Valid BC Class 5 or 6 Full Driver’s Licence (non-GDL) held for at least 2 full years; Approved ICBC Commercial Driver’s Medical Examination Report (DMER); Clean 5-year commercial driver abstract with no major driving prohibitions; Air Brake (Code 15) knowledge endorsement or concurrent training. Some schools ask for more; check the school page.

Class 1 Commercial Truck Driver (Semi-Trailer / Heavy Transport) · British Columbia

Drive large trucks on highways. You need a required training course, a road test and a medical check.

How long

5 to 8 Weeks (140 hours MELT + Air Brakes)

Cost

Not published

10 schools

Who licenses it

ICBC

🏫Where you can take this: 10 schools

🌊1st Class Driving School Ltd.🛢️A.L.R. Driving School 🚦Banur Driving School Ltd.🌲Cariboo Driver Training ⚓CSTT Complete School of Truck Transportation Ltd.🏔️Extreme Professional Driver Training Inc.+ 4 more

THE ROUTE

The route at a glance

STEP 1

Class 5 Licence & Commercial Medical (DMER)

Hold full Class 5 licence & medical fitness

STEP 2

Air Brake Course & Endorsement (Code 15)

16-hr air brake course & knowledge test

STEP 3

140-Hour Class 1 MELT Training Program

Complete 140-hour ICBC Class 1 MELT program

STEP 4

ICBC Pre-Trip Inspection & Commercial Road Test

Pass pre-trip inspection & Class 1 road test

JOB

Class 1 Commercial Driver Career

Receive Class 1 licence & begin driving

STEP 1

Class 5 Licence & Commercial Medical (DMER)

Hold full Class 5 licence & medical fitness

STEP 2

Air Brake Course & Endorsement (Code 15)

16-hr air brake course & knowledge test

STEP 3

140-Hour Class 1 MELT Training Program

Complete 140-hour ICBC Class 1 MELT program

STEP 4

ICBC Pre-Trip Inspection & Commercial Road Test

Pass pre-trip inspection & Class 1 road test

JOB

Class 1 Commercial Driver Career

Receive Class 1 licence & begin driving

This is the overview. For the courses to take, the entry rules, the exams and the schools, open the full route.

See the full route, step by step →

THE JOB

What the job is like

Pay and outlook from WorkBC.

Pay

$22.00 – $40.38 / hr$30.77 median

Job outlook

15,350 forecasted job openings (2025–2035) · 2025–2035

Where the work is

Lower Mainland / Port of Vancouver, Interior & Northern BC, Thompson-Okanagan

What a day looks like

You haul commercial freight, shipping containers, or bulk materials across provincial mountain highways and urban delivery corridors.

Watch out for

Monitor air brake pressure on steep mountain downgrades and adapt driving to sudden winter snow and black ice.

Where it can lead

You can earn higher pay transporting dangerous goods or cryogenic tanker loads.

You can also purchase your own tractor truck to operate as an independent highway owner-operator.

Source: WorkBC career profile, NOC 73300

JOBS

Find jobs

Live postings on the big job boards, searched for this job in British Columbia.

Job Board

WorkBC job board

Search “Truck Driver” in BC →

Job Board

Job Bank (Government of Canada)

Search “Truck Driver” in BC →

Job Board

Search “Truck Driver” in BC →

Job Board

Indeed

Search “Truck Driver” in BC →

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Common questions

How long does it take to become a truck driver in BC?

About 5 to 8 weeks of training. The main steps are class 5 licence & commercial medical (DMER), air brake course & endorsement (code 15), 140-hour class 1 MELT training program, ICBC pre-trip inspection & commercial road test, class 1 commercial driver career.

What do you need to get in?

Minimum 19 years of age
Valid BC Class 5 or 6 Full Driver’s Licence (non-GDL) held for at least 2 full years
Approved ICBC Commercial Driver’s Medical Examination Report (DMER)
Clean 5-year commercial driver abstract with no major driving prohibitions
Air Brake (Code 15) knowledge endorsement or concurrent training

Some schools ask for more; check the school page.

How much does a truck driver make in BC?

The WorkBC median is $30.77 / hour. Most earn between $22.00 and $40.38 / hour. 15,350 job openings are expected in BC over 2025–2035.

Do you need a licence?

Yes. You register with Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Before that you pass ICBC Class 1 Commercial Road Test (2.5-hour driving evaluation conducted by an ICBC commercial examiner).

WHERE TO TAKE THIS

Approved colleges, universities & providers

Accredited British Columbia institutions offering recognized programs and courses for this career.

Browse all BC institutions

🚛

Valley Driving School

Surrey / Langley / Abbotsford / Burnaby · Metro Vancouver

Safety Ticket / Certification

ICBC Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) Class 1 Program

Official ICBC standard 140-hour Class 1 MELT program: 64.5 hours theory/classroom, 15.5 hours yard training, and 60 hours practical 1-on-1 on-road driving across Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, and Chilliwack.

Duration6–8 weeks

FormatHybrid

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🚚

Integrity Driving School Ltd.

Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Kelowna & Prince George · Interior & North

Safety Ticket / Certification

Class 1 Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT)

ICBC-certified 140-hour Class 1 MELT commercial truck driver training with flexible scheduling, practical yard maneuvering, and road tests across Fraser Valley, Okanagan, and Prince George.

Duration6–8 weeks

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🏔️

Extreme Professional Driver Training Inc.

Kamloops, Kelowna & Vernon · Interior & North

Safety Ticket / Certification

Class 1 MELT Professional Driver Training

Comprehensive ICBC-approved 140-hour Class 1 commercial tractor-trailer training featuring real-world mountain pass driving, chain-up exercises, and defensive techniques in Kamloops, Kelowna, and Vernon.

Duration6–8 weeks

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

⚓

CSTT Complete School of Truck Transportation Ltd.

Sidney & Victoria · Vancouver Island

Safety Ticket / Certification

Class 1 MELT Driver Training Program

Vancouver Island’s dedicated 140-hour Class 1 commercial training at Victoria Airport / Sidney, providing hands-on backing, pre-trip inspections, and dual-control highway instruction.

Duration140 hours

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🌊

1st Class Driving School Ltd.

Courtenay & Campbell River · Vancouver Island

Safety Ticket / Certification

Class 1 MELT Tractor-Trailer Program

ICBC-approved 140-hour commercial driver instruction in Courtenay and Campbell River with dedicated 1-on-1 in-cab training on modern tractor-trailer equipment.

Duration6–8 weeks

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🛣️

Over the Road Truck Driving School Ltd.

Kamloops, Langley & Surrey · Interior & North

Safety Ticket / Certification

Class 1 MELT Professional Truck Driver Program

Blended 140-hour Class 1 MELT instruction combining online hazardous materials and theory modules with practical yard skills and supervised mountain pass driving in Kamloops, Langley, and Surrey.

Duration6–8 weeks

FormatHybrid

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🌲

Cariboo Driver Training

Williams Lake · Interior & North

Safety Ticket / Certification

Commercial Class 1 MELT Program

Northern and Cariboo commercial driver training in Williams Lake delivering 140 hours of rigorous practical backing, coupling, pre-trip inspection, and highway tractor-trailer handling.

Duration6–8 weeks

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🛢️

A.L.R. Driving School

Fort St. John · Interior & North

Safety Ticket / Certification

Class 1 MELT Driver Training

Peace River ICBC-approved 140-hour commercial driving certification in Fort St. John, preparing professional drivers for industrial, highway, and resource sector freight haulage.

Duration6–8 weeks

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

⭐

Gold Star Professional Driving School Inc.

Burnaby & Coquitlam · Metro Vancouver

Safety Ticket / Certification

Class 1 MELT Commercial Driver Certification

ICBC-approved 140-hour Class 1 MELT commercial licensing in Burnaby and Coquitlam with free air brake theory and flexible 7-day-a-week training schedules.

Duration6–8 weeks

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

🚦

Banur Driving School Ltd.

Surrey · Metro Vancouver

Safety Ticket / Certification

ICBC Class 1 MELT Truck Driving Program

Surrey-based ICBC certified 140-hour Class 1 MELT course featuring 64.5 theory hours, 15.5 yard training hours, and 60 practical driving hours with job search support.

Duration6–8 weeks

FormatIn-Person

Est. CostNot published

See the full page: Class 1 truck training →

Direct Enrolment Portal

How to get a Class 1 licence in BC

The route at a glance

Class 5 Licence & Commercial Medical (DMER)

Air Brake Course & Endorsement (Code 15)

140-Hour Class 1 MELT Training Program

ICBC Pre-Trip Inspection & Commercial Road Test

Class 1 Commercial Driver Career

Class 5 Licence & Commercial Medical (DMER)

Air Brake Course & Endorsement (Code 15)

140-Hour Class 1 MELT Training Program

ICBC Pre-Trip Inspection & Commercial Road Test

Class 1 Commercial Driver Career

What the job is like

Find jobs

WorkBC job board

Job Bank (Government of Canada)

LinkedIn

Indeed

Common questions

How long does it take to become a truck driver in BC?

What do you need to get in?

How much does a truck driver make in BC?

Do you need a licence?

Approved colleges, universities & providers

Valley Driving School

ICBC Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) Class 1 Program

Integrity Driving School Ltd.

Class 1 Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT)

Extreme Professional Driver Training Inc.

Class 1 MELT Professional Driver Training

CSTT Complete School of Truck Transportation Ltd.

Class 1 MELT Driver Training Program

1st Class Driving School Ltd.

Class 1 MELT Tractor-Trailer Program

Over the Road Truck Driving School Ltd.

Class 1 MELT Professional Truck Driver Program

Cariboo Driver Training

Commercial Class 1 MELT Program

A.L.R. Driving School

Class 1 MELT Driver Training

Gold Star Professional Driving School Inc.

Class 1 MELT Commercial Driver Certification

Banur Driving School Ltd.

ICBC Class 1 MELT Truck Driving Program