What is a Class 3 refresher?
A Class 3 refresher is one-on-one time in a straight truck for a driver who already holds a Class 3 licence and wants to get sharp again. It is practice with an instructor beside you, not a licensing course, and it does not replace one.
People book a refresher when they have been out of the seat for a while, are moving from a cube van to a dump truck or flatdeck, or have an assessment coming with a new employer. Sessions are booked by the hour, so you pay for the time you need rather than a fixed course. If you don’t hold a Class 3 yet, our Class 3 training is the place to start.
Not sure a refresher is what you need?
Start with who it is for and what to check with ICBC first. Or call us and describe your situation.
Who a Class 3 refresher is for
A refresher is for drivers who already hold a Class 3 licence and want focused time in the seat rather than a full training package.
- Drivers returning after a gap. A career break, a different job or time off the road, and you want your pre-trip, backing and road sense back before a loaded run.
- Drivers moving from a cube van to a dump truck or flatdeck. Same licence class, but a different truck to back, load and handle.
- Drivers with a new employer’s assessment coming. An employer may ask to see you drive before dispatching you, and a few hours of practice in a straight truck first can help.
- Drivers who want more confidence in winter or mountain conditions. See winter driving and chains below, and our mountain driving training for the Coquihalla and other mountain routes.
Not a replacement for Class 3 training
If you don’t yet hold a Class 3 licence, a refresher isn’t the starting point. Our Class 3 training is the path that gets you there. A refresher is for sharpening a licence you already have.
What a Class 3 refresher covers
A refresher is built around your experience and the truck you drive. Tell us what feels rusty and we plan the hours around it. Topics typically include:
Pre-trip & air brake checks
A full walk-around inspection and the air brake checks, practised until they are habit again.
Shifting & vehicle control
Smooth shifting, clutch and throttle control, starts on hills and getting a heavier truck moving and stopping cleanly.
Backing & yard manoeuvring
Straight-line and offset backing and tight-space manoeuvring in a straight truck.
Urban driving in Surrey & Langley
Turns, lane positioning, intersections and traffic around our two yards, with an instructor beside you.
Straight-truck work
What changes between a cube van, a dump truck and a flatdeck, so a new truck type does not catch you out.
Defensive driving
Following distance, mirrors, spotting hazards early and driving a heavy vehicle with room to stop.
Winter and chain rules and load securement basics have their own sections below, because they depend on your truck and your cargo.
How a refresher session runs
Sessions are one instructor and one driver, booked by the hour. This is the general shape; your instructor adjusts it to your experience and goals.
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Talk it through
You tell your instructor how long you have been away, what you drive or expect to drive, and what worries you most.
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Pre-trip and air brake checks
A walk-around inspection and the air brake checks, so the routine is back before you move the truck.
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Yard, then road
Backing and low-speed control in the yard first, then driving in traffic around Surrey and Langley.
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Where you stand
Your instructor tells you what looks solid and what to keep practising, so you can decide whether more hours would help.
Winter driving and chains for straight trucks
Winter rules in BC depend on the route, the time of year and your truck’s licensed gross vehicle weight (LGVW). This is a general guide only, so check the current BC rules before you travel.
- When it applies. Signed winter tire and chain-up routes run from October 1 to March 31. Mountain pass and high-snowfall routes are extended to April 30.
- 11,794 kg LGVW and over. Steel chains must be carried on most major highways. The type, number and placement depend on the LGVW and the vehicle configuration.
- 5,000 to 11,794 kg LGVW. Carry chains or other acceptable traction devices, unless the truck is fitted with winter-rated tires (3-peak mountain snowflake or M+S).
A straight truck can fall into either weight band, so know your truck’s LGVW before you head onto a signed route.
Check the current rules
Routes, dates and requirements can change. Use the BC government pages on winter driving for commercial vehicles and the winter tire and chain-up routes before you travel. For the Coquihalla and other mountain routes, see our mountain driving training.
Check your licence before you book
A refresher builds skill. It does not renew, reinstate or add anything to your licence. Before you book, confirm these three things with ICBC.
- Licence expiry. Make sure your Class 3 is current. If it has been expired for a long time, ask ICBC what applies to you before you book, because extra requirements may apply.
- Driver medical. Commercial licences depend on keeping your driver medical up to date. Confirm that yours is current.
- Air brake endorsement. Driving an air brake vehicle needs the endorsement on your licence. Check that yours is in place. If it isn’t, see our air brake course and the air brake endorsement guide.
ICBC has the final word
ICBC is the authority on your licence status and requirements. See ICBC’s licence classes and types or contact ICBC directly. Rules change, so treat this page as a general guide.
Load securement basics
Straight-truck work often means carrying cargo, so securing it properly is part of driving safely. These general principles come from the national cargo securement standard (NSC Standard 10):
- The combined working load limit of the securement system must be at least 50% of the cargo weight.
- Tiedowns must be kept taut on the highway.
- The standard has extra rules for specific cargo, such as logs, pipe and coils.
Tiedown counts, how often to check a load on the road and what puts a vehicle out of service depend on the cargo and the current rules, so don’t rely on this page for them. Read the NSC Standard 10 cargo securement standard and the BC cargo securement page, and see our load securement training to go deeper.
How to book
Booking starts with a phone call or a WhatsApp message. If you’d rather we call you, use the call-back form at the bottom of this page.
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Tell us your situation
How long you have been away, what you drive or expect to drive, and what you want to practise. We’ll suggest how many hours make sense.
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We confirm the details
The yard (Surrey or Langley), the hours and a time that suits you. We answer the phone from 9am to 9pm, every day.
With us -
You train
One instructor, one driver. No shared class time and no waiting on a course calendar.
With us
Ready to book a refresher?
Tell us how long you have been away and what you drive, and we’ll tell you what a session involves.
Why book a Class 3 refresher with Tricon
A refresher is only as good as the instructor beside you and the truck you are in. Here is what you can count on with Tricon.
Same instructors who teach Class 3
The people teaching your session are the same instructors who run our full Class 3 program.
Booked by the hour
You pay for the time you need, not a fixed course. We quote current pricing over the phone.
No shared class time
One instructor, one driver, for every session — there's no waiting your turn behind other students.
Yards in Surrey and Langley
Two Metro Vancouver training yards, so getting to a session doesn't mean a long drive first.
Open 9am to 9pm, every day
Including weekends and holidays, so booking a session doesn’t mean taking a day off work to fit ours.
4.6★ Surrey · 5.0★ Langley on Google
We’re also a BC Trucking Association member school.
How a refresher is priced
Refresher time is billed by the hour rather than a fixed course fee, so we quote current pricing over the phone based on what you actually need. See our course fees page for how pricing works across every program.
Booking for a driver you employ?
If you are an employer arranging a refresher or an assessment for one of your drivers, see our corporate & fleet training page. If you’re looking to hire, our job placement page explains how we work with employers.
Class 3 refresher training — frequently asked questions
What is a Class 3 refresher?
It is one-on-one practice in a straight truck for drivers who already hold a Class 3 licence. It is booked by the hour and built around what you want to sharpen, such as pre-trip and air brake checks, backing, shifting and driving in traffic. It is not a licensing course.
Is this course for beginners?
No. A refresher is for drivers who already hold a Class 3 licence. If you are starting from scratch, look at our Class 3 training instead.
How many hours will I need, and how is it priced?
It depends on how long you have been away and what you drive. Refresher time is billed by the hour rather than as a fixed course fee, and we quote current pricing over the phone. See our course fees page for how pricing works across every program.
Will we practise the pre-trip and air brake inspection?
Yes. Pre-trip and air brake inspection practice is part of a refresher, and you can tell us when you book if you want more time on it.
Should I check my licence before booking?
Yes. Check that your licence is not expired, that your driver medical is up to date and that your air brake endorsement is in place. ICBC can confirm all three. A refresher builds skill but does not renew or change your licence.
Does a refresher cover winter driving and chains?
This page explains BC's winter tire and chain rules for straight trucks in general terms, and you can tell us when you book if you want winter or mountain practice. Rules and routes change, so check the current BC rules before you travel. For the Coquihalla and other mountain routes, see our mountain driving training.
Can a refresher help with load securement?
You can ask for load securement basics in a session, and our load securement training goes deeper. The main points are that the securement system's aggregate working load limit must be at least 50% of the cargo weight, and that tiedowns must be kept taut. Commodity-specific rules apply, so check the official standard.
Where and when can I book?
We train from our Surrey yard at 12511 82 Ave and our Langley yard at 8380 216 St. Call (778) 549-1727 between 9am and 9pm, every day including weekends and holidays, or message us on WhatsApp.
Can my employer book a refresher or assessment for a driver?
Yes. Employers can ask about refresher sessions and driver assessments for their drivers. Call us to talk through what your fleet needs, or see our corporate and fleet training page.