Alberta Gravel Truck Drivers

When I read the back of my class 1 where it describes each of the 7 license classes all it says for a class 2 is "Class 3, 4, 5 and any bus" so you should be good to operate a straight truck with the class 2 you have now as long as it doesn't have air brakes.

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ok, cool, are there many trucks out there that don't have air brakes? Sorry, just new to all of this, but ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to drive a large truck, I'm a woman, but love the jobs mostly men apply for. Saw a job the other day looking for someone to drive a truck full of explosives, make $100K or more a year, that's crazy, but #### good money.

 

Not sure about Alberta but I know here in Manitoba years back my neighbor only needed a classroom course for the air upgrade to his class 3 .. might be because he was a farmer though . I'd inquire what's required to upgrade to a air endorsement it doesn't hurt and opens more doors

 

My main concern is not knowing how to drive a class 3 truck, even with air brakes training, a school bus is different. I've seen ads where companies will train a new driver once they have the air brakes training, but doesn't seem to be too many out there, they only want to hire people with experience. I'm considering just going for my class 1 as I'll get all the training I need even if I have to work a job that's lesser than I'm trained for. I glad to know from the previous thread that being a "newby" on a manual transmission truck is better, fresh to it all, scares me to learn on a truck when I've never driven any vehicle with a manual transmission.

 

In Ontario you can still challenge the Class A license (tractor trailer) and the Z endorsement (air brake) until July 18 2017. Dangerous goods (hazmat) is also a challenge test given by employer. Its just a written open book test.

 

I've recently found out that Derek Brown's academy of training is even better than CCA, I actually talked to them today and found that the air brakes course is only $200 and the Class 1 is $2000, better than I thought it would be. I've seen ads for other schools offering a 3 week Class 1 program for $6000, that really seems high.

 

As you mention Class A, that's what they call it in the US, are you in Windsor by chance? Amazing how you can challenge the tests, I guess if you are a farmer or someone who is self-taught, as far as I know it's illegal to drive an air brakes vehicle on a gov't road without the class A/1 or air brakes endorsement. I know this school I visited today will train me in both standard and auto transmittion, but test in auto trans. just so there are no mistakes. I'd love some day to work hazmat, something that pays well.

 

I'd double check that you won't have an auto only restriction before testing in an auto. Not sure what the rules are these days.