Alberta Class 1 – Driver licence changes: Farm – Restricted Class 1 (P) driver’s licence

Effective April 1, 2024 eligible farmers and their family members have the option to apply for a farm-restricted, Alberta-only, Class 1 driver’s licence. This change removes the requirement for the pre-licensing, Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) but still requires successful completion of a Class 1 knowledge and road-test, vision-screening, and submissions of a driver’s medical assessment. Drivers will also be required to complete the Air Brake training to obtain their Q endorsement.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON ELIGIBILITY, RESTRICTIONS, DEFINITION OF FAMILY MEMBER AND HOW TO APPLY

Since its’ implementation in 2019, Alberta Grains has heard from numerous famers related to challenges in obtaining the Class 1 licence under MELT. Since then, Alberta Grains has worked closely with the provincial government to advocate for alternative approaches try to ease the implementation for farmers, while keeping safety top of mind.

As an organization we view this a positive step forward toward addressing: training costs, backlogs, driver shortages/migration and continuing to recognize comparable driving experience of farmers and their family members. The restricted P class 1 licence for authorized farm use, was complimented with the announcement for a new learning pathway for Class 1 drivers and will be working toward a made-in-Alberta learning pathway for professional transportation drivers over the next year.

Leading up to the announcement and on March 27, 2024 our department met with the Honourable Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation & Economic Corridors (TEC) subsequent to his announcement on the change in Calgary, to share initial reactions from farmers. We are in regular contact with officials within TEC and they are eager to hear from industry as they work through the implementation of these changes.

Other resources:

If you have any concerns, challenges or questions regarding the changes please contact:

Shannon Sereda
Director, Government Relations, Policy & Markets
ssereda@albertagrains.com
403-219-6263

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