DBTWG – Class 1 Funding Application

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• be at least 18 years of age
• hold an Alberta non-probationary driver’s licence
• be unemployed and able to demonstrate they qualify for Employment Insurance
• be a resident of Alberta
• be ready, willing, and able to participate in training and planning to seek full-time employment in the commercial transportation industry (minimum 30 hours per week)
• have sufficient English language skills to succeed in driver training and testing
• deemed to meet citizenship requirements (for example Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or convention refugee) and legally entitled to work and train in Canada

Refugees under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act must have:

• convention refugee status
• a notice of decision issued
• a valid work permit
• applied for and received a study permit that covers the individual’s entire period of training

Requirements

If accepted for funding, grant recipients are required to complete the following:

• Air Brake Program
• Air Brake Knowledge Test
• Class 1 Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) Program or Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program
• Class 1 Knowledge Test
• Class 1 Road Test
• Program evaluation survey within 90 days of completing the program and 12 months of completing the program.

Employment Insurance benefits

Funding

We work to provide employment support programs and services.

Grant recipient funding is paid directly to the driver training school.

Covered by the grant

• One attempt at the Air Brake Program.
• One attempt at the Class 1 MELT Program or Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program.
• Vehicle rental and use of the yard for up to (2) Class 1 Road Test(s).
• Up to 2 Class 1 Road Tests.

Not covered by the grant

• An Alberta driver’s medical examination report that must be completed by a physician or nurse practitioner and approved by a registry agent or Alberta Transportation’s Driver Fitness and Monitoring section.
• Air Brake Knowledge Test.
• Class 1 Knowledge Test.
• Additional (more than 2) attempts at the Class 1 Road Test, if needed.

How to apply

Step 1. Fill out and submit the Driving Back to Work Grant Application Form

Fill out the Driving Back to Work Grant Application and send the form to:

Ballad Group
950, 10104 103rd Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
T5J 0H8
Phone: 1-855-295-7180
Email: [email protected]
Website: Ballad Group

If you have any questions or need help filling out your application, contact Ballad Group directly.

For more information, read the Driving Back to Work Grant Program Applicant Guide.

Step 2. Phone call with Ballad Group about your eligibility

Ballad Group will call you using the contact information you gave on the application form, within one business day of the application being received. They will book a virtual interview with you.

Step 3. Complete an interview with Ballad Group to assess eligibility

After the virtual interview, you will receive an email from Ballad Group with the results of your assessment.

If you are eligible for the grant, you will receive a Preliminary Approval Letter in this email.

Step 4. Get a driver medical examination

If you are approved, you must get a driver medical examination conducted by a physician or nurse practitioner and submit the results to Ballad Group at [email protected].

This must be done within 15 business days from the date of your approval notification.

Step 5. Receive an email from Ballad Group regarding your eligibility

The email details on how to enroll in training, including the name of the driver training school to contact.

Step 6. Contact the assigned driver training school to confirm your attendance

Complete the program

To complete the program, all training and testing must be completed within 8 weeks of your assigned start date and prior to March 31, 2023. Program evaluation surveys must also be completed after 90 days and 12 months of completing the training and testing, which are distributed by Ballad Group.

Ballad Group works with driver training schools to monitor your progress through the program.

Contact

For questions related to applications, eligibility, and the status of your grant application, contact:

Ballad Group
Phone: 1-855-295-7180
Email: [email protected]

Address:
950, 10104 103rd Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
T5J 0H8