Since 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has required that every new Class A commercial driver complete a Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) program before sitting their road test. The curriculum is standardized at 116.5 hours and broken into five core modules.
Module Breakdown
- 37 hours — In-class theory and tests
- 32 hours — On-road driving
- 18 hours — Yard training and maneuvers
- 17 hours — Vehicle inspection
- 12 hours — Air brake (Z endorsement) training
What's In The 37 Hours Of Classroom
The in-class portion isn't filler — it covers the legal, mechanical, and procedural foundation you need to drive safely. Topics include hours-of-service regulations, cargo securement, dangerous goods awareness, the Highway Traffic Act as it applies to commercial vehicles, trip planning, and basic vehicle systems theory. There are written tests throughout.
What 32 Hours Of On-Road Looks Like
On-road training is one-on-one with a licensed instructor in the cab. You'll start in low-traffic environments and progressively move to highway driving, urban streets, lane changes, merging, intersection handling, and night driving. Every session includes structured feedback and skill-building drills.
Why Yard Training Gets 18 Hours
Yard maneuvers — straight-line backing, offset backing, alley dock, and coupling — are the skills that fail more road tests than any on-road component. The 18 hours of yard training builds the spatial awareness and trailer-tracking instincts you need to execute these maneuvers under examination pressure.
Vehicle Inspection: 17 Hours
The seven-zone pre-trip walk-around takes practice to internalize. The 17 hours of inspection training give you the repetition you need to perform a complete pre-trip without skipping items or losing your sequence under pressure.
Air Brake: 12 Hours
The MELT air brake module satisfies the Z endorsement requirement. By the end of these 12 hours, you'll have the classroom theory and the practical skill to perform a full air brake test sequence and understand the system thoroughly enough to handle malfunctions safely.
Our MELT program is approved under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005, which means we deliver the full 116.5-hour curriculum to provincial standards. We also include job placement support for our graduates.
