The Surge in Private Career Colleges Offering Truck Training

In recent years, Ontario has seen a dramatic increase in private career colleges providing Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) for commercial truck drivers. From 93 such institutions in 2019, the number ballooned to 205 by 2024, driven by high demand for truck drivers amid Canada's ongoing supply chain needs. This expansion coincided with the introduction of the MELT program in 2017, which mandates a minimum of 103.5 hours of structured training for Class A licenses: 36.5 hours in-class theory, 17 hours in-yard maneuvers around stationary vehicles, and 50 hours on-road driving experience. Private career colleges, regulated by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), deliver most of this vocational training, positioning them as key players in Ontario's post-secondary landscape for skilled trades.

However, the rapid growth outpaced oversight. As of March 2025, 25% of these colleges—54 out of 216—had never been inspected by MCU, and 54% of those due for re-inspection remained unchecked. This lack of monitoring allowed substandard practices to proliferate, undermining the quality of higher education in vocational programs.

Undercover Investigation Reveals Shocking Deficiencies

To assess compliance, Auditor General Shelley Spence's office enrolled six undercover students across five private career colleges and one public college over six months in 2024. The findings were alarming: two private colleges delivered only 59.5 hours (57%) and 81 hours (78%) of the required 103.5 hours, respectively. Students at these schools were instructed to pre-sign logs for uncompleted sessions, receiving certificates despite incomplete training.

Critical skills were routinely skipped. Four colleges failed to teach essentials like left turns at major intersections, reverse parking (including straight-line backing and alley dock), and emergency stopping procedures. Instructors at two schools were distracted by their phones during behind-the-wheel lessons, and one exceeded the maximum four-student-to-instructor ratio, sometimes reaching 6:1 in yard training. One undercover student completed just 60% of hours and barely 12 in-class hours before certification.

• Pre-signing training logs without actual instruction.
• Avoidance of challenging maneuvers to boost pass rates.
• Use of easier test routes, correlating with higher post-licensing collision rates (1.9% vs. 1.5% for standard routes).

These lapses highlight systemic failures in private college delivery of higher education standards for high-risk professions.

Falsified Records and Oversight Gaps Exposed

Between 2019 and 2024, three registered private colleges falsified or altered student records, while four lacked documentation proving all students completed MELT components. Unregistered providers illicitly booked over 3,200 road tests and issued certificates, exploiting IT system gaps that allowed suspended organizations to continue operations.

MCU's Superintendent of Career Colleges, responsible for registration and inspections, struggled with coordination between ministries. A leaked memo revealed compromised testing via bribes, forged documents, and rigged processes. Lax eligibility let 986 drivers with demerit points, suspensions, or convictions obtain licenses, leading to 252 collisions (one fatal) from 2015-2025.

Full details are available in the Auditor General's report.

Safety Risks Amplified by Inadequate Training

Commercial trucks represent just 3% of Ontario vehicles but were involved in 12% of fatal crashes from 2019-2023. Northern Ontario's 2021 fatality rate was 9.25 per 100,000, over double the provincial 3.94. Infractions like improper turns rose 108%, linked to poor training.

Poorly trained drivers face higher collision risks, impacting insurance premiums and industry costs. Insurance Bureau of Canada notes less-trained drivers cause more costly accidents. With Canada facing a 55,000-driver shortage in 2026, subpar training erodes trust, worsening retention.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Industry Calls for Reform

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) labeled it a 'culture of lawlessness,' demanding immediate crackdowns. PMTC President Mike Millian noted longstanding alarms since MELT's launch, urging resource allocation: 'Abuse and fraud has been allowed to run rampant... It is time the province put real money and resources towards fixing this problem.'

NDP Leader Marit Stiles called it a public safety crisis. Minister Nolan Quinn vowed annual inspections and targeting 'bad actors,' noting 19 closures (11 trucking schools) since taking office. For more on industry views, see Truck News analysis.

Government Response and Planned Inspections

All 200+ colleges will be inspected by late June 2026; 14 already checked. Thirteen Auditor recommendations accepted, including better IT systems and ministry coordination. Pilot for school-hosted road tests to reduce backlogs.

• Annual inspections mandated.
• Close IT loopholes for unregistered providers.
• Stricter instructor qualifications and ratios.

Implications for Vocational Higher Education

This scandal spotlights vulnerabilities in Ontario's private career college sector, vital for workforce development. With MCU oversight strained, it questions quality assurance in short-cycle programs amid driver shortages. Broader reforms could model for other trades training.

Recommendations and Future Outlook

Auditor's 13 recommendations focus on robust monitoring, standardized testing, and eligibility checks akin to Quebec's. Industry pushes Quebec-style bars on high-risk applicants. Expect tighter regulations, potentially raising training costs but improving safety and employability.

For students: Verify MCU registration, demand full hours proof. Employers: Prioritize experienced hires, support advanced training. Read the full Global News coverage for updates.

Actionable Advice for Students and Employers

• Choose MCU-registered colleges with recent inspections.
• Track personal training logs; refuse pre-signing.
• Employers: Implement probationary periods, ongoing training.
• Advocate for public colleges' higher standards.

Reforms promise safer roads and credible credentials, bolstering Ontario's higher ed vocational offerings.

Photo by Harman Tatla on Unsplash