The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has updated the Mandatory Initial Training (MELT) for Class 1 commercial truck driver’s licenses.
The MTO has directed driver certification program organizations and approved vocational training course providers to clarify how they create and integrate standardized lesson plan requirements into their curriculum.
In a bulletin, the ministry said it has developed a new lesson plan template that meets the requirements of the standard and will serve as an additional resource to ensure consistency and quality.
The updated curriculum, including lesson plans, must be resubmitted to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) by July 1, 2025. In the province, truck driving schools must be registered in as vocational colleges.
Although the requirement for lesson plans is not new and many training organizations already follow their own lesson plans when delivering MELT programs, vocational schools will now be required to incorporate detailed lesson plans in their MELT programs, said Charlotte Smaglinski, superintendent of vocational schools.
Review by subject matter experts
In a memo to accredited vocational institutions, it said such plans should include information regarding course themes, deadlines, instructor-to-student ratios, training materials and learning outcomes.
Submissions must include new program evaluations by adult education specialists and subject matter experts. These evaluators must certify that, in their opinion, the plans comply with the requirements of the Class 1 training standard.
“If the required changes are not submitted on time, or if they do not meet the heavy goods vehicle driver training standard (Class A), your program approval may be revoked so that you can no longer offer or deliver the program(s) in question and/or you are prohibited from enrolling new students,” explained Ms. Smaglinski.
Ministry issues law enforcement warning
Course providers may continue to use their previously approved curriculum while waiting for the MTO or MCU to re-approve their updated curriculum. Once the program is re-approved, they will be required to use it in the future.
The MTO has warned that course providers who fail to submit their updated curriculum, including lesson plans, or who issue non-compliant lesson plans after the six-month transition period, may be subject to enforcement action from the ministry’s audit teams.
Techni-Com President Rolf VanderZwaag, a training program designer and one of the architects of MELT in Ontario, first shared the news in a post on his professional network. He welcomed the ministry’s action and hopes it will weed out many bad actors over the next six months.
Decision draws support
“It doesn’t eliminate the fact that schools can say one thing and do something else. It’s a start, and it becomes their truth,” Mr. VanderZwaag said.
“This could help remedy the current situation, where adequate training, which costs a school between $6,000 and $10,000, is no longer offered for $3,000 to $3,500.”
Philip Fletcher, president of the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario (TTSAO), supported the decision, saying it was necessary to refresh schools’ knowledge and ensure everyone was on the right track.
TTSAO members plan to work together
Mr Fletcher is in talks with association members to work together on the detailed lesson plan. “This would allow MTO and MCU to see that we are all on the same page and teaching the curriculum the way it is supposed to be taught,” he stressed.
Mr Fletcher called for ensuring that schools comply with what they say they want to do.
Geoff Wood, senior vice-president of the Ontario Trucking Association, said the ministry’s decision is a good starting point and should be followed by increased enforcement and monitoring.
“If someone does the right thing, I don’t see a problem. If people do things they’re not supposed to do or take shortcuts, these groups could get in trouble,” he added.
