The Road to a New Learning Pathway

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin, Manager of Communications, and Erica Cormack, Manager of Education, chat with Catherine Williams, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Traffic Safety Services with Alberta’s Transportation & Economic Corridors (TEC).

In our conversation, we discuss an overview of the Class 1 Learning Pathway, which the Alberta Government officially launched as of April 1, 2025. Catherine gives us more details on why this change is being implemented, what this new pathway process will look like for prospective drivers, how this affects the goal of commercial driving being recognized as a trade, what the transition period between the current MELT program and Learning Pathways will be, and more!

To learn more about the Learning Pathways program, visit the website: https://www.alberta.ca/class-1-learning-pathway 
On this website, you can also watch the ‘Day in the Life’ videos that Catherine mentions in our conversation.

Read the News Release on the Learning Pathway for Class 1 Drivers on the Alberta Government website.
In addition, learn more about Transportation and Economic Corridors and their other programs and initiatives on their website.

• Safety is at the forefront of commercial transportation in Alberta. Join us on May 8, 2025, at the Lethbridge Safety Summit for a full day of content, including a keynote presentation and sessions with information and tangible takeaways relevant to commercial transportation. Network with like-minded transportation professionals and explore our event tradeshow. Get your tickets now, only $30!

• AMTA's Professional Truck Driving Championship (PTDC), which returns May 31, 2025, celebrates 75 years of Driver Excellence!
  Commercial drivers ensure goods and services in Alberta get to where they need to go, and this event serves to highlight the skillsets required behind the wheel. Drivers participate in one of five categories: Straight Truck, Pup Trailer Day Cab, Day Cab, Bunk Truck, and B-Train.
  Driver and Volunteer registration is open now! (registration closes May 23)!
  Please note registration for both Drivers and Volunteers goes quickly. Learn more about PTDC on our website, or contact [email protected].

• Commercial drivers play a crucial, yet often overlooked, role in maintaining safety on Alberta’s roads. Each day, they navigate challenging conditions, weather, and traffic to deliver goods safely, while also taking extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of everyone around them. AMTA is introducing an "Angels of the Highway" program designed to celebrate and acknowledge these selfless efforts. This initiative will not only recognize the commitment truck drivers make to road safety but also empower them with the tools and resources to continue their vital work while staying healthy, safe, and supported on the road. Nominate your driver today!

• If you have any questions on our new Member Value Launch that dropped April 1, please reach out to us [email protected] or visit amta.ca for more details.

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.  

Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

Instagram: amta_ca/  

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

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