JOINING A TRUCK SCHOOL
what to expect – know your rights
Once you’ve chosen your school make sure you get the training you are paying for!
The link above will take you to a government page filled with information you should read over. A few important points below:
cONTRACT
Never, never sign a contract that is partially blank! Make sure it’s completed before you sign. Once signed, the school *ABSOLUTELY MUST* give you a copy (print or email). Do not start training until you have a copy of your signed contract. If the school doesn’t give you one, get a refund and go somewhere else!
PAYMENT
The school may not collect more than $500 from you before a contract is signed. Your contract should include a schedule of when you are expected to pay the rest of your fees. EVERY SINGLE TIME you make a payment, the school MUST give you a receipt, not just your eTransfer, a real receipt with the school’s name on it! Keep them!
cLASSES
To be a legal program that meets the MELT Standard it must be 103.5 hours of training as follows:
MELT TRAINING MUST BE :
- 36.5 Hours of in-class training (not including Airbrake) – no more than 15 students with 1 instructor
- 17 Hours ‘around the vehicle’ (Inspection) – no more than 4 students with 1 instructor
- 18 Hours ‘behind the wheel’ – Yard (Coupling-uncoupling, backing) 1-on-1
- 32 Hour ‘behind the wheel’ – Road (driving skills) 1-on-1
aTTENDANCE
The school must have you sign for your training EVERY TIME you attend!
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER SIGN ATTENDANCE FORMS FOR TRAINING YOU DID NOT RECEIVE!
If you sign forms saying you received hours of training the school did not really give you, the school can say they gave you 103.5 hours of training (which you paid for) and you will have no recourse if you fail your test.
Some bad schools out there will only give part of the 103.5 hours and then tell students they are ready. If they only gave 8 hours of backing instead of 18, or 10 hours of driving instead of 32, how can a student pass? Don’t be ripped off! Get your money’s worth of training!!!