1 Answer

Heavy Vehicle Combination (Class 1)

A Class 1 licence authorizes its holder to drive a combination of vehicles, <abbr title="id est">i.e.</abbr>:

• a double-axle road tractor with a net weight of 4,500 <abbr title="kilogram">kg</abbr> or more hauling one or more trailers or semitrailers;
  OR


• a triple-axle road tractor hauling one or more trailers or semitrailers;
  OR


• a truck covered by Class 3 hauling a trailer or semitrailer whose net weight is 4,500 <abbr title="kilogram">kg</abbr>or more and which is only used to transport equipment, tools or furnishings as part of its permanent equipment;
  OR


• a truck covered by Class 3 hauling any trailer or semitrailer other than those described above, with a net weight of 2,000 <abbr title="kilogram">kg</abbr> or more.

Class 1 also authorizes the holder to operate all other types of road vehicles, except for motorcycles.

Note: A road tractor is a motor vehicle that does not have cargo space and that is permanently equipped with a fifth wheel.

Conditions to obtain a Class 1 licence

You must meet the following criteria:

• Basic requirements
  
  
  
  • Applicants must: have fewer than 4 demerit points entered on their driving record;
  
  
  • not have had their driver's licence suspended or revoked during the two previous years as the result of accumulating demerit points or a driving-related Criminal Code offence;
  
  
  • pass the <acronym title="Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec" xml:lang="fr">SAAQ</acronym>'s vision test;
  
  
  • submit a satisfactory medical report; 
  
  
  • pass the knowledge test (Costs for obtaining a licence for various classes of driver's licence);
  
  
  • pass the 2 road tests.
  
  
  
  


• Experience required
  
  
  
  • The applicant must have 36 months cumulative experience as a holder of a Class 5 probationary licence or Class 5 driver's licence (passenger vehicle)
    OR
  
  
  • 24 months cumulative experience if he or she has completed the following training:
    
    
    
    • the truck driving training program which leads to the Diploma of Vocational Studies issued by the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport; or
    
    
    • a 300-hour driving course on the public roadway for heavy vehicles covered by Class 1. This program must include at least 40 hours of driving given by a heavy vehicle driving school AND a professional internship for the number of hours needed to complete the required 300 hours. Applicants must have either of these programs recognized by the <acronym title="Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec" xml:lang="fr">SAAQ</acronym>, which may request certain documents, such as the learner's daily logs as well as those of the accompanying rider in the case of the 300-hour program.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Medical assessment and vision test

Go to an <acronym title="Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec" xml:lang="fr">SAAQ</acronym> service centre to:

• take a vision test;


• obtain the medical assessment form that you are required to have your physician fill out. You must send the completed form to the <acronym title="Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec" xml:lang="fr">SAAQ</acronym>.

Length of the learning period

The applicant must have held a Class 1 learner's licence for 3 months OR for 1 month if the applicant meets one of the following requirements:

• applicant is registered in the truck driving training program which leads to the Diploma of Vocational Studies issued by the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport and has successfully completed all mandatory sections of the program required to drive on the road without an accompanying rider; or


• is aged 25 or over; or


• has 60 months cumulative experience as a holder of a Class 5 licence; or


• holds a Class 2 or 3 driver's licence.

Summary description of the road tests

Important: After December 1, 2008, tests for licence Classes 1, 2 and 3 take into account the Regulation respecting the hours of driving and rest of heavy vehicle drivers in effect since June 15, 2007.

• The pre-trip inspection test (page in French only) (Costs for obtaining a licence for various classes of driver's licence)
  This test assesses your ability to inspect a combination of vehicles before getting on the road. This pre-trip inspection includes the mechanical components (page in French only) that all drivers must check before every heavy vehicle driving work shift.


• The heavy vehicle road test (Costs for obtaining a licence for various classes of driver's licence)
  This test assesses your ability to perform common on and off-highway manoeuvres when driving a combination of vehicles, as well as observance of traffic rules, including those which specifically concern drivers of heavy vehicles.

Tests for the F, M and T endorsements

All new drivers who wish to drive a heavy vehicle equipped with an air brake system (F endorsement), a manual (standard) transmission (M endorsement), or who wish to drive a road train (T endorsement) must pass the tests that are specific to each endorsement.

For the F endorsement, you must:

• pass a specific knowledge test for this endorsement;


• report to the road tests with a vehicle equipped with air brakes;


• pass the road test.

For the M endorsement, you must:

• report to the heavy vehicle road test with a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission;


• pass the road test.

For the T endorsement, you must:

• have held a Class 1 driver's licence for at least 5 years;


• pass a specific knowledge test for this endorsement.

The T endorsement on the licence holder's record attests to the ability to drive a road train,<abbr title="id est">i.e.</abbr> a double road train (a vehicle combination comprised of a tractor and two semitrailers) over 25 metres long. This type of vehicle requires a special road train operating permit issued by the <acronym title="Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec" xml:lang="fr">SAAQ</acronym> or the Ministère des Transports.

If you fail the test(s)

You only retake the test you failed.

• At least 7 days must have elapsed from the date of failure before you are allowed another try.


• You must make another appointment with the <acronym title="Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec" xml:lang="fr">SAAQ</acronym> and report to the test with a heavy vehicle corresponding to the licence class and endorsement sought.


• If you are only retaking the heavy vehicle road test, you must conduct a pre-trip inspection before reporting to the test with the vehicle.

Proper preparation

We recommend that you study:

• the traffic rules detailed in the Driver's Handbook;


• driving techniques in the heavy vehicle driving guide entitled Driving a Heavy Vehicle.

You can also read the brochure entitled Prospective Heavy Vehicle Driver, which outlines the procedures to follow to obtain this class of driver's licence.

For further information, call one of the following numbers:

• in Montréal: 514 873-7620;


• in Québec (city and vicinity): 418 643-7620;


• from elsewhere: 1 800 361-7620, toll free (Québec, Canada, <acronym title="United States of America" xml:lang="en">USA</acronym>)


• http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/driver_licence/classes/class_1.php