Refresh your Class 1 skills, one-on-one
You already hold a Class 1 licence. Sometimes the skills need a tune-up: you have been away from the truck, you are starting somewhere new, or one part of the job just does not feel sharp. A refresher is a one-to-one session in a Tricon tractor-trailer, built around what you want to work on.
There is no fixed class to join and no set course length. You tell us what you want to sharpen, we book the hours, and you decide how much time you need.
What is a Class 1 refresher?
A Class 1 refresher is a short, flexible, one-to-one session for drivers who already hold a Class 1 licence. It is built around the skills you want to sharpen.
What it is not
A refresher is not a licence course, not a road test and not Class 1 MELT. If you do not hold a Class 1 licence yet, MELT is the place to start. Confirm current licensing requirements with ICBC.
Check your Class 1 licence is current
Since October 18, 2021, new BC Class 1 applicants must complete an ICBC-approved MELT course (140 hours) before the road test. Existing BC Class 1 drivers are exempt as long as their BC Class 1 licence has not been expired for more than 3 years. So a refresher suits current or recently lapsed licence holders. If your licence has been expired longer than that, MELT may apply, so check with ICBC before you book. See the ICBC MELT FAQs and confirm current rules with ICBC.
Who it is for
The refresher is for licensed drivers who want targeted time in the seat, not a full course.
- Drivers returning after a gap, whose skills need a refresh before getting back behind the wheel of a loaded truck.
- Drivers who feel rusty on specific skills, such as backing, coupling, pre-trip inspection, shifting or air brakes.
- Drivers moving from local or straight-truck work to a tractor-trailer.
- Drivers starting with a new carrier who want to feel settled in the truck before day one.
- Drivers preparing for an employer road test who want to practise the skills it may look at.
- Drivers who want more confidence on the highway and on mountain grades.
Which refresher is for you?
- Returning after a gap: start with pre-trip, coupling and yard backing, then build up to the road.
- Moving from a straight truck to a tractor-trailer: coupling, backing and getting used to a longer combination.
- Preparing for a new carrier's road test: practise pre-trip, coupling, backing and on-road driving, and ask the carrier what its test covers.
- Want confidence for mountain and winter driving: mountain grade practice on request. BC's signed winter tire and chain routes run October 1 to March 31, and mountain pass and high-snowfall routes are extended to April 30. Commercial vehicles of 11,794 kg LGVW and over, such as tractor-trailers, must carry steel chains on most major highways. Check the current BC rules before you travel.
Driving a straight truck instead?
See our Class 3 Refresher Training page.
What we can cover
These are general topics. Your session is built around what you ask for, so you spend the time where you need it.
Pre-trip inspection
Work through a full pre-trip inspection at your own pace, so it becomes routine again.
Coupling & uncoupling
Hitching and unhitching a trailer cleanly and safely, as many times as you need.
Backing & yard work
Straight-line backing, offset backing and alley docking in a real yard.
On-road driving
City and highway driving with an instructor beside you.
- Shifting — practise smooth, confident gear changes in a tractor-trailer.
- Highway and mountain driving — on request, on the Coquihalla or through the Fraser Canyon.
- Air brakes — covered as a topic if you want to work on them. See the Air Brake Course page for the course itself.
- Load securement — how to place and tighten straps, chains and binders (tie-downs) on a load.
Load securement refresher
Securing a load is a skill of its own, and an easy one to get rusty on. If you want to go over it, we can work through the basics of straps, chains and binders (tie-downs) with you. This is general practice only: the right way to secure a load depends on what you haul, so tell us when you call and ask us what applies to your loads.
- Placing straps and chains — run them over or around the load and hook them to anchor points that are sound and suited to the load, with edge protection wherever a strap crosses a sharp corner.
- Using ratchets and binders — take up the slack by hand, tighten until snug and firm without crushing the cargo, close the ratchet handle fully, and secure a binder handle so it cannot release. Stand clear of the handle’s swing when you release it.
- Tension and checks — walk the whole load before you leave and confirm every tie-down is tight, every binder handle is secured, and strap tails and winch bars are stowed.
- Inspecting tie-downs — read the rating tag and look for cuts, fraying, burns or damaged links. A strap or chain with an unreadable tag or visible damage does not get used.
- Re-checking during a trip — check the load again once you are moving and during the trip, and re-tighten anything that has loosened. Confirm the current requirements on the official NSC Standard 10 and BC cargo securement pages.
A refresher session is not the full course. For how the cargo securement rules apply to different loads, see our Load Securement Training page, or ask us which fits what you haul.
How a session runs
Every session is one instructor with one driver, in Tricon’s own maintained tractor-trailers.
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You tell us what to work on
Backing, coupling, shifting, the highway: whatever you want to sharpen.
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We confirm the time and yard
Hours, and whether you want Surrey or Langley.
With us -
The session runs
One instructor, one driver, in a Tricon tractor-trailer. No shared class time.
With us -
You decide what is next
You choose whether to book more hours.
How to book
Booking usually starts with a phone call. You can also message us on WhatsApp or leave your number in the call-back form below. Tell us what you want to work on and we will confirm the time and yard.
Ready to book?
Tell us what you want to work on, and we will tell you what the session involves.
Why refresh with Tricon
A refresher is only useful if it is built around what you need. Here is how we set it up.
Built around your goals
We customize every refresher session, so if backing is your main concern, that is where we spend the time.
Tricon’s own tractor-trailers
You train in Tricon’s own maintained tractor-trailers.
No shared class time
One instructor, one driver, for every session. There is no waiting your turn behind other students.
Yards in Surrey and Langley
Two Metro Vancouver training yards, so getting to a session does not mean a long drive first.
Open 9am to 9pm, every day
Including weekends and holidays, so booking a session does not 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.
Booking & pricing
Refresher lessons are billed by the hour rather than a fixed course fee, so we quote current pricing over the phone based on the time you need. See our course fees page for how we think about pricing across every program.
Booking for a company’s drivers?
Carriers and fleets can see our corporate & fleet training page.
Class 1 refresher training — frequently asked questions
Who is the Class 1 refresher for?
Drivers who already hold a Class 1 licence and want to refresh or relearn skills: returning after time away, rusty on backing, coupling, pre-trip or shifting, moving from local or straight-truck work to a tractor-trailer, starting with a new carrier, or wanting more confidence on the highway and in the mountains.
Do I need to already hold a Class 1 licence?
Yes. The refresher is for drivers who already hold a valid Class 1 licence. It is not a licence course. If you do not hold a Class 1 yet, see our Class 1 MELT program. Confirm current licensing requirements with ICBC.
How many hours will I need?
It depends on your current skill level and what you want to work on. Refresher lessons are booked by the hour rather than as a fixed course, so you book only the time you need, and we can suggest a schedule once we know your goals.
What truck will I train in?
A Tricon tractor-trailer, from our Surrey yard at 12511 82 Ave or our Langley yard at 8380 216 St. Sessions are one instructor with one driver.
Can I practise for an employer road test?
You can use a session to practise the skills an employer road test may look at, such as pre-trip inspection, coupling and uncoupling, backing and on-road driving. A refresher is not a road test and we cannot tell you what a specific employer will test, so ask the employer what to expect.
Can I work on highway and mountain driving?
Yes, on request. We run mountain driving sessions on the Coquihalla and through the Fraser Canyon for licensed drivers who want practice on sustained grade. Tell us when you call and we will build it into your session.
Are air brakes covered?
Air brakes can be covered as a topic if you want to work on them. A refresher is not the Air Brake Course, so confirm current air brake requirements with ICBC.
Can I refresh my load securement skills?
Yes, on request. We can go over how to place and tighten straps and chains, use binders and ratchets, inspect tie-downs and re-check a load during a trip. What we cover depends on what you haul, so tell us when you call and ask us what we can set up for your session.
Is the refresher the same as the Load Securement Training course?
No. A refresher covers general practice in a session built around what you ask for. For how the cargo securement rules apply to different loads, see our Load Securement Training page, or ask us which fits what you haul.
Is the refresher the same as MELT?
No. Class 1 MELT is our licensing program for people who do not yet hold a Class 1. A refresher is a flexible one-to-one session for drivers who are already licensed.
How do I book a refresher lesson?
Call (778) 549-1727 between 9am and 9pm any day, or message us on WhatsApp. Tell us what you want to work on and we will confirm the time and yard. Refresher lessons are billed by the hour, and we quote current pricing over the phone.