The Alberta government has cracked down on several commercial truck driving schools and instructors following “serious violations” of the Traffic Safety Act.
Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen confirmed to True North that an unspecified number of instructors and schools received disciplinary action, including license revocations, for running afoul of government standards.
“Following several thorough investigations, the department has issued disciplinary action against a number of driving schools and instructors,” said Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen in a statement to True North. “In these cases, Investigators found serious violations—including falsified student assessments, fake training records, and cheating on road tests.”
The government said those violations resulted in the cancellation of licences and fines of up to $10,000.
“Any school or instructor that compromises public safety will face serious consequences,” Dreeshen added. “Our enforcement strategy is proactive, data-driven, and uncompromising when it comes to protecting Albertans.”
The minister said the province regularly inspects driver training schools, instructors, and examiners to ensure compliance with provincial traffic laws.
Dreeshen pledged that the province would continue to take strong actions against bad actors in the commercial driving industry.
Recent high-profile incidents have underscored concerns about the quality of training in Canada’s trucking sector.
In March, an Alberta-based semi-truck driver and their company were charged with 28 offences after a load struck an overpass on Sherwood Park Freeway. The driver faced 13 tickets totalling around $25,000, and the company faced nine tickets, totalling over $13,000 — for a cumulative $38,000.
Last fall, another Alberta driver was fined after a modular home he was hauling slammed into a B.C. overpass — the 24th overpass strike of the year in B.C, far surpassing the 17 recorded in all of 2023. By year’s end, B.C. recorded 29 overpass crashes involving commercial vehicles.
Alberta recently overhauled its training system for new truck drivers.
As of April 1, 2025, the new “Class 1 Learning Pathway” has replaced Alberta’s Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) program.
The updated approach introduces a flexible, tiered model that includes classroom instruction, practical training, and an apprenticeship-style licensing phase. Drivers begin with restricted licences and only gain full inter-provincial status after completing advanced on-road assessments.