Mandatory Training for Vehicle for Hire Drivers

In June 2023, City Council directed City administration to develop a mandatory driver training program for all vehicle for hire drivers in Edmonton. The City of Edmonton has now introduced this training, which must be completed by April 1, 2025.

The City of Edmonton and Norquest College developed the training in 2024 after engagement with industry and users. The training is based on important feedback and contributions from Women’s Advocacy Voice of Edmonton (WAVE), and the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), vehicle for hire dispatchers, vehicle for hire drivers, and Edmonton residents that use vehicle for hire services.

The following drivers must take this training:

• Taxi drivers
• Limousine drivers
• Private transportation vehicles (those who drive a vehicle for pay)
• Ride Share (such as Uber/Lyft) drivers

The new training program, which is estimated to take anywhere between 5 and 8 hours to complete, includes four courses: 

• Accessibility
• Customer Service
• Safety and Responsiveness
• Navigating Vehicle for Hire (City rules and other requirements)

The training has been developed to minimize the impact on drivers as much as possible, while balancing the City’s need to ensure that drivers have the knowledge and skills to provide safe, accessible and equitable transportation services. Each dispatch company will be responsible for training their own drivers. 

The training can be delivered in many formats, based on the vehicle for hire dispatcher’s needs. Depending on the dispatcher and vehicle for hire organization, training may be offered to drivers in a combination of:

• Online with an instructor
• Online without an instructor
• Self-paced 
• Guided 
• In-person

The deadline to complete the training is April 1, 2025. This includes completing all four courses and passing the final assessment.

Drivers who complete the training and pass the final assessment will be given a driver training certificate from their dispatcher. Drivers must have the driver training certificate available while in their vehicles to prove completion. 

They must also provide the certificate when submitting their first new or renewal application for the Vehicle for Hire driver licence. The certificate will not have to be submitted for subsequent renewals as the certificate will be on file.

Training only needs to be completed once provided that the driver passes the final assessment. Training from other dispatchers will be transferable and will not require retaking training.

Two attempts are permitted for retaking the final assessment. Drivers who fail on the second attempt will be required to retake the training program. 

The City’s training was made available to dispatchers to implement in August 2024, and vehicle for hire dispatchers are in various stages of delivering training to their drivers. If you are a vehicle for hire driver and need more information about how you can take training, please contact your dispatcher for more information.

Failure to take the training on or before April 1, 2025 will result in enforcement actions which could include fines.