Who this course is for
You drove on an Ontario Class AZ licence, you now live in British Columbia, and you are exchanging it for a B.C. Class 1. If ICBC tells you to complete air brake training before the exchange, this is the course.
Ontario’s Class AZ is a Class A licence with the air brake (Z) endorsement. ICBC’s published rule is written around drivers who completed the Ontario Class A MELT course, so that is the driver we built this page for. The details of your own case still come from ICBC, and we will help you work out which questions to ask.
Different situation?
Never held Class 1 before? Start with our Class 1 MELT course. Just need the Code 15 air brake endorsement on your current licence, or for an RV? See the standard air brake course.
Why B.C. asks for it
ICBC recognizes full Class 1 MELT courses from Ontario and several other provinces, but Ontario is treated differently on air brakes. ICBC’s reason is that air brake training is not mandatory for Ontario Class A drivers, either as part of the Ontario MELT course or as a stand-alone course.
The National Safety Code entry-level standard for Class 1 drivers does require air brake training. B.C. also treats brake adjustment as a real safety issue: a brake that is out of adjustment loses stopping power, and B.C. has long, steep grades where that matters most. ICBC calls out mountainous regions as the reason the training matters.
Do you need the upgrade?
ICBC publishes the rule for Ontario drivers in its MELT FAQs. In plain terms:
- You completed the Ontario Class A MELT course, and
- you have less than 24 months of consecutive Class 1 experience.
If both are true, ICBC says you must complete a mandatory B.C. air brake course and pass an air brake pre-trip before a B.C. Class 1 licence is issued.
ICBC makes the final decision
ICBC reviews your driving record and may require testing before it issues a B.C. Class 1. Rules can change, so ICBC will confirm what you need. If you did not take MELT in Ontario, a different set of rules applies. Ask ICBC, or call us and we will point you in the right direction.
Steps to your B.C. Class 1
Here is the sequence as far as ICBC has published it.
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Ask ICBC what applies to you
Contact ICBC or visit a driver licensing office about exchanging your Ontario licence. ICBC will confirm what you need based on your licence history and driving record.
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Complete the air brake course
ICBC requires 15.5 hours of air brake theory and practical training at a MELT-approved Air Brake Certification Facility. Tricon is a MELT-approved Air Brake Certification Facility, and our course is 9 hours of theory plus 6.5 hours of practical, 15.5 hours in total.
With us -
Pass the air brake pre-trip
ICBC says you must pass an air brake pre-trip before the B.C. Class 1 is issued.
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Finish the exchange with ICBC
ICBC issues the B.C. Class 1 once its requirements are met. ICBC will tell you about any remaining tests, forms or fees.
What the training covers
The course follows the air brake standard that ICBC sets for certified courses. Ask us for the detailed outline when you call. In general it covers:
How the system works
Compressed air, the compressor and governor, air dryer, reservoirs and drain valves, the foot valve and the dual (primary and secondary) system.
Brakes & adjustment
Brake chambers, foundation brakes, slack adjusters and checking pushrod travel, the point ICBC’s reasoning is built around.
Spring brakes & warnings
Spring parking brakes, low-air warnings and what to do the moment one activates.
Pre-trip inspection
A step-by-step air brake pre-trip on a real vehicle, finding major and minor defects, and practice for your assessment.
For each topic we start from what you already know from Ontario and focus on the differences ICBC cares about, particularly brake adjustment.
Why train with Tricon
- Certified assessment officer on staff for the air brake pre-trip assessment.
- Yards in Surrey and Langley for Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley drivers.
- Open 9am to 9pm, every day, so you can book around a job search or a new shift.
- Straight answers on ICBC’s process, from instructors who train Class 1 drivers every week.
Schedule and price
The course is 9 hours of theory plus 6.5 hours of practical training, 15.5 hours in total, which matches the 15.5 hours ICBC requires. Call (778) 549-1727 for the current schedule and price. We answer from 9am to 9pm, every day, and an instructor can tell you what the course involves.
Ready to book your upgrade?
Tell us when you moved and how long you held your Class AZ licence, and we will explain the next step.
Ontario AZ air brake upgrade: frequently asked questions
Who has to do the air brake upgrade?
Based on ICBC’s published rules, it applies to drivers who completed an Ontario Class A MELT course and have less than 24 months of consecutive Class 1 experience. ICBC also reviews your driving record, so it will confirm what applies to you when you apply.
How many hours does ICBC require?
ICBC says 15.5 hours of air brake theory and practical training must be taken at a MELT-approved Air Brake Certification Facility. Our upgrade course is 9 hours of theory plus 6.5 hours of practical, 15.5 hours in total. For our schedule and price, call (778) 549-1727.
Do I have to repeat the full B.C. Class 1 MELT course?
ICBC says B.C. recognizes the Ontario Class A MELT course, so drivers in this situation are asked to complete the B.C. air brake training and pass an air brake pre-trip, not the full 140-hour B.C. MELT. Your own case depends on your licence history, so ICBC will confirm.
Why does B.C. ask Ontario drivers for air brake training?
ICBC explains that air brake training is not mandatory for Ontario Class A drivers, either inside the Ontario MELT course or as a stand-alone course. The National Safety Code entry-level standard for Class 1 requires it, and B.C. points to badly adjusted brakes as a safety risk, especially in mountainous regions.
I have 24 months or more of Class 1 experience. Do I still need this?
ICBC’s published requirement for Ontario drivers is tied to having less than 24 months of consecutive Class 1 experience. ICBC also says your driving record is reviewed and testing may be required, so check with ICBC before you decide.
What is the air brake pre-trip that ICBC mentions?
It is a hands-on inspection of the air brake system. ICBC says drivers in this situation must pass an air brake pre-trip before a B.C. Class 1 is issued. We can tell you how our training and assessment fit with ICBC’s process when you call.
Is this the same as the standalone Code 15 air brake course?
No. The standalone air brake course is 7 hours of theory plus 4 hours of practical training for the Code 15 endorsement. The upgrade for Ontario Class A drivers is a separate ICBC requirement with its own 15.5-hour standard.
How do I book?
Call or message us at (778) 549-1727, open 9am to 9pm every day. Tell us when you moved, how long you held your Class A licence and whether you took MELT in Ontario, and we will explain the next step.