Two ways to fund your training, and they can be combined
Cost is the single most common reason a Class 1, Class 3 or air brake course gets put off — and it is usually the most solvable part of the whole decision. There is no single public number that fits every student, because what you actually pay depends on the program, what you already hold on your licence, and which funding you qualify for. What we can tell you here is exactly how the two routes work.
The first is in-house funding through us, which starts without waiting on a government decision. The second is provincial and employer grants, several of which apply directly to commercial driver training in B.C. and can cover a large share of the cost. Most students end up using one, or a combination of both.
The short version
Call us before you assume you can’t afford it. Five minutes on the phone is usually enough to tell you which funding routes are realistic for your situation, and what it means for what you pay. (778) 549-1727 — open 9am to 9pm, every day.
In-house funding
We offer in-house funding for qualified students who want to begin Class 1 MELT, Class 3 or air brake training without paying the full tuition upfront. It is a simple application, reviewed case by case, with flexible payment arrangements built around your situation.
- No waiting on a government decision. Government grant applications and approvals take time; in-house funding does not hold up your start date.
- Reviewed case by case, not against a rigid checklist — we look at what actually works for you.
- A deposit holds your seat and start date; the balance is arranged around whichever payment route fits, not demanded upfront.
- Can run alongside a government grant application, so you are not stuck waiting on one funding route before another can start.
In-house funding is arranged directly with us over the phone, not through a form on this page — every application is reviewed individually because every student’s situation is different. Call (778) 549-1727 and ask about it.
Government and employer grants
British Columbia funds commercial driver training through several channels, because the province has a recognised driver shortage it wants filled. These are the programs that most often apply to Tricon students:
B.C. Employer Training Grant
Where a carrier sponsors your training, this can cover up to 80% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $10,000 per participant. Best suited to students who already have an employer or carrier lined up. See our full BC Employer Training Grant guide for eligibility and how to apply.
Community Workforce Response Grant
Provincial funding aimed at filling skills gaps in local labour markets. Commercial driving is a recurring priority occupation in the Lower Mainland and beyond.
Skill Enhancement Training Grant
Support for individuals training toward occupations B.C. has identified as in demand — commercial trucking regularly qualifies.
Indigenous Skills Training Development Fund
Dedicated training funding for Indigenous learners across British Columbia, administered separately from the general provincial grants above.
Eligibility, application windows and exact coverage change from time to time, and rules are rarely written with a first-time applicant in mind. We do not administer these grants ourselves — they go through the relevant provincial body or WorkBC — but we help students work out which ones are worth applying for, and how they fit around a Tricon start date.
We do this every week
Working out which program fits is genuinely confusing, and the eligibility rules are not written for the people who need them. Ask us — we help students through this constantly and we will tell you honestly which routes are realistic for you.
How to get started
Working out funding does not need to happen before you can talk to us — it happens alongside the conversation about which program you need.
Call and tell us your situation
What you want to train for, what’s on your licence today, and whether an employer or carrier is involved. Nothing needs to be decided yet.
We work out which routes fit
In-house funding, a specific government grant, or a combination — we will tell you honestly which is realistic rather than pointing you at every option.
Apply
In-house funding is a short application reviewed case by case. A government grant needs more paperwork; we will tell you what’s involved and point you to the right place.
Confirm your start date
A deposit holds your seat while any grant paperwork is still moving — you are not required to have every dollar of funding confirmed before you begin.
Talk it through before you rule anything out
Tell us what you're working with. Most students assume they don't qualify for something before actually checking — five minutes on the phone is enough to know for sure.
What affects what you qualify for
These are the factors that most often decide which funding route makes sense — worth thinking about before you call, though we will walk through all of them with you anyway.
- Whether an employer or carrier is sponsoring you. The B.C. Employer Training Grant specifically requires employer participation.
- Which program you need. Class 1 MELT, Class 3, the air brake course alone, or hourly individual lessons are treated differently by different grants.
- Your current employment status. Several provincial grants are aimed at people currently unemployed, underemployed, or looking to move into an in-demand occupation.
- Indigenous status, which opens up dedicated funding through the Indigenous Skills Training Development Fund.
- How soon you want to start. In-house funding has no approval wait; government grants generally do, so timing can push a student toward one route over another.
Funding — frequently asked questions
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. We offer in-house funding for qualified students who want to start Class 1 MELT, Class 3 or air brake training without paying the full tuition upfront. It is a simple application reviewed case by case, with no waiting on government approval before you can start.
How much of the cost can funding cover?
It depends entirely on the program and your eligibility. The B.C. Employer Training Grant, for example, can cover up to 80% of eligible training costs to a maximum of $10,000 per participant where an employer sponsors the training.
Other provincial programs target specific groups — people entering in-demand occupations, Indigenous learners, and workers affected by local labour market gaps. We help students navigate these every week and we will tell you honestly which ones look realistic for you.
Do I need an employer to qualify for a grant?
Only for the B.C. Employer Training Grant, which requires a sponsoring employer or carrier. Other programs, like the Community Workforce Response Grant and Skill Enhancement Training Grant, are aimed at individuals rather than employer-sponsored training. In-house funding through us needs no employer at all.
Do I have to pay everything before I start?
No. Deposits hold your seat and start date, and the balance is arranged around whichever payment or funding route applies to you. We will lay out exactly how it works before you commit to anything.
Can I combine in-house funding with a government grant?
Often, yes. In-house funding can get you started while a government grant application is still being processed, and grant funds can then be applied once approved. We help students structure this every week — ask us on the phone about your specific situation.
How long does a government grant take to be approved?
It varies by program and is set by the government body administering it, not by us. This is exactly why in-house funding exists — so a grant timeline does not have to dictate when you can start training. Call us and we'll give you a realistic sense of timing for the program you're looking at.
Does funding cover ICBC fees too?
That depends on the specific grant — some cover eligible training costs only, others are broader. ICBC's own fees for knowledge tests, licensing and road tests are paid directly to ICBC regardless. See course fees & what's included for the full picture of what is and isn't part of a Tricon course fee.