What is on-site air brake testing?
If you already have air brake training or hands-on experience, you don't always need to repeat a full course to get the Code 15 restriction removed. Tricon has a certified assessment officer on staff who can conduct your practical air brake assessment directly, on one of our own air-brake-equipped vehicles — the same testing service you'd otherwise book at an ICBC driver licensing office.
This page is about the exam itself, not the classroom and hands-on instruction that normally leads up to it. If you've already put in the learning — through a course elsewhere, in another province, or years of hands-on experience with air brakes — this is how you turn that into a Code 15 endorsement without redoing training you don't need.
Once you pass both exams, ICBC adds the endorsement to whichever licence class you already hold. It doesn't change your licence class — it simply lifts the Code 15 restriction from it.
Never trained on an air brake system before?
Testing on-site is for candidates who already know the material, not a first introduction to it. If air brakes are new to you, start with our standalone air brake course — it covers the same exams plus the classroom and hands-on training that gets you ready for them.
Is testing on-site right for you?
On-site testing is for candidates who already have the knowledge and experience behind them — not a shortcut around learning the material. A quick phone call tells us which side of that line you're on.
You're likely a good fit for testing only if:
- You completed air brake training with another school or an employer and never wrote the ICBC exam, or need to write it again.
- You held a Code 15 endorsement before and need to re-test after a lapse, a licence change, or time away from air-brake vehicles.
- You're an out-of-province Class 1 or Class 3 driver with prior air brake training who needs to satisfy B.C.'s exam requirement.
- You're an experienced RV or motorhome owner who already understands your coach's air brake system and just need the endorsement on record.
- An employer wants proof of your air brake knowledge for a specific vehicle and you already have the background.
Book the full course instead if:
- You've never trained on an air brake system before — the standalone air brake course covers the material first.
- Your RV or motorhome's air brake system is new to you — see the RV air brake course.
- You're enrolling in Class 1 MELT or Class 3 — air brake training and testing are already built into those programs.
Not sure which applies to you? Call us at (778) 549-1727 — we'll ask a few questions about your background and tell you honestly whether testing alone makes sense before you book anything.
What the exam covers
The practical assessment we conduct covers the same province-wide air brake pre-trip inspection ICBC expects, and the ICBC knowledge test is taken separately at an ICBC driver licensing office. ICBC decides whether your experience exempts you from a course, so check with ICBC first.
Knowledge test (at ICBC)
ICBC’s multiple-choice test: 25 questions, 20 to pass, taken at an ICBC driver licensing office.
Practical assessment
A hands-on pre-trip air brake inspection and assessment on one of our air-brake-equipped vehicles — checking pushrod travel, low air warning devices, and the rest of the system.
If the exam turns up gaps
We'll tell you honestly rather than pass you through. In many cases we can get you caught up with a condensed session rather than sending you back through the whole standalone air brake course — but if your background turns out to be thinner than expected, the full course is the right next step.
How on-site testing works
At many schools, testing means booking a separate appointment at an ICBC driver licensing office — often weeks out, and on a vehicle you've never seen before test day.
Tricon has a certified assessment officer on staff, your practical air brake assessment happens with us — on one of our own air-brake-equipped vehicles, at whichever yard suits you. The ICBC knowledge test is taken separately at an ICBC office.
Before you book
Testing on-site has the same eligibility as any Code 15 exam — you're adding an endorsement to a licence you already hold, not applying for a new class.
- Hold a valid B.C. driver's licence — Class 5, 3, 1 or another commercial class, appropriate to the vehicle you intend to drive.
- Meet the medical standard that already applies to your licence class. Code 15 doesn't add a separate medical requirement on top of it.
- Have genuine prior air brake training or experience. Testing on-site isn't a substitute for learning the material for the first time.
- If it's for an RV, confirm with your insurer that your policy covers an air-brake-equipped unit once the endorsement is added.
Not sure where you stand? Call us at (778) 549-1727 and we'll confirm what you need before you book a test slot.
Your path to test day
From your first phone call to a licence with Code 15 lifted, here's the whole sequence.
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Call and describe your background
Tell us where and how you learned air brakes — another school, another province, an employer, or years of experience. We'll tell you honestly if testing alone is the right call.
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Book your test slot
Pick Surrey or Langley and a time that works — we'll have the vehicle and assessment officer ready for you.
With us -
Write the ICBC knowledge test
Multiple-choice questions on the air brake system, taken at an ICBC driver licensing office (25 questions, 20 to pass).
At an ICBC office -
Complete the practical assessment
A hands-on air brake inspection and assessment on one of our own air-brake-equipped vehicles — you may not need a separate ICBC pre-trip test.
With us -
Code 15 comes off your licence
ICBC adds the air brake endorsement to your existing licence class once you've passed the ICBC tests.
Ready to book your test?
Tell us about your air brake background and we'll tell you exactly what testing on-site involves for you.
Why test with Tricon
The air brake exam standard is set by ICBC everywhere in B.C. What separates schools is how the testing actually happens, and whether the person assessing you has done the job.
Certified assessment officer on staff
Complete your practical assessment with us, so you may not need a separate ICBC pre-trip test.
Usually one visit
The practical assessment happens in one visit at our yard, on a vehicle you can get familiar with first.
Assessed by people who've done the job
Our assessment officer and instructors have held a commercial licence themselves, not just a curriculum binder.
Yards in Surrey and Langley
Two Metro Vancouver training yards, so getting to a test doesn't mean a long drive first.
Open 9am to 9pm, every day
Including weekends and holidays, so booking a test doesn't mean taking a day off work to fit ours.
4.6★ Surrey · 5.0★ Langley on Google
We're a BC Trucking Association member school with the same instructors who teach our full Class 1 and Class 3 programs.
Booking & how it's priced
We quote current pricing for on-site testing over the phone so you get an accurate number for your situation. See our course fees page for how we think about pricing across every program, and ask about in-house payment options when you call.
Need training first, not just testing?
If a phone call or the exam itself shows you need the material taught, not just assessed, our standalone air brake course — or the RV air brake course for motorhome owners — covers the classroom and hands-on training that gets you ready to test.
Air brake testing on-site — frequently asked questions
Can I write the air brake test with Tricon without taking a full course?
If you already have air brake training or hands-on experience — through another school, another province, or on the job — call us with the details. In many cases we can book you straight in for a practical assessment with our certified assessment officer, rather than a full course.
If you've never trained on an air brake system before, we'll get you into the standalone air brake course instead.
Can I test with Tricon instead of booking a separate ICBC appointment?
Yes. We have a certified assessment officer on staff, so your practical air brake assessment happens with us, on our own air-brake-equipped vehicle, instead of a separate pre-trip test at an ICBC driver licensing office.
What is a Code 15 endorsement?
Code 15 is the restriction ICBC places on a British Columbia driver's licence that prohibits driving a vehicle equipped with air brakes. Passing the ICBC air brake knowledge test and pre-trip test removes that restriction, whatever class of licence you hold — it doesn't change your licence class, it lifts the restriction on it.
What do I need to bring to the test?
Your valid B.C. driver's licence and, if you have it, any record of prior air brake training. Call ahead and we'll confirm exactly what to bring for your situation.
I already hold Class 1 or Class 3 from another province. Can I just test here?
It depends on where and how you trained. B.C. recognises full MELT-equivalent courses from several other provinces, but some out-of-province graduates — Ontario Class A drivers with under 24 months' experience, for example — still owe B.C. its own air brake training before testing.
ICBC makes the final call based on your driving record and training history. Call us with the details and we'll tell you honestly where you land before you book anything.
How long does the on-site test take?
Most candidates complete the practical assessment in a single visit; the ICBC knowledge test is taken at an ICBC office. Book ahead so we can have the vehicle and assessment officer ready for your slot.
Where do you offer on-site air brake testing?
From our Surrey yard at 12511 82 Ave and our Langley yard at 8380 216 St, with candidates coming from across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. We answer the phone from 9am to 9pm every day of the year, weekends and holidays included.