Class 1 Licence / MELT

A Class 1 is the broadest licence in trucking. Long-haul, local, Super Bs, dump trucks with pups, tankers, flatdecks — with a Class 1 you can legally operate every commercial vehicle in BC except a motorcycle. Employers value that flexibility, which makes a Class 1 one of the more employable licences in the province.

What MELT actually means

Since October 2021, BC has required Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) for every new Class 1 driver — a minimum of 140 hours of classroom and behind-the-wheel work. We take the time to deliver it properly: theory and materials, in-yard sessions, in-cab off-road and on-road sessions, plus highway and mountain driving — every hour goes toward making you a safer driver, not just a licensed one.

The CSTT advantage — real loads, real yards

This is something not every school can offer. CSTT and Jencam Transportoperate out of the same yard. That means while you’re training, you’re around a working trucking operation rather than an empty lot. Many of our students get exposure to real loads and experienced mentors — the kind of hands-on experience many trucking companies look for before hiring a new graduate. It’s a head start that’s hard to find elsewhere.

What to expect

Learning to drive a 75-foot tractor-trailer with a non-synchro-mesh transmission and air brakes is humbling at first — and that’s normal. You’ll start in a controlled environment, get your shifting and double-clutching dialed, then move to city streets where you’ll learn the single most important lesson in trucking: you’re driving the trailer, not the truck. The tractor goes out of the lane; the trailer stays in it.

All training is one-on-one with an ICBC-licensed instructor, rather than a packed classroom.

Cost and registration

A deposit is required at registration — lessons aren’t scheduled until it’s received. ICBC fees (knowledge test, road test, licensing) are separate and your responsibility. Call 250-655-0432 for current pricing and to lock in your start date.