Commercial Safety College

When you want to be trained as a truck driver in the Maritimes, you go to Commercial Safety College in Masstown, Nova Scotia. It's been that way for 50 years. Near Truro, the mission of one of the oldest private career colleges in Canada is to provide quality training for the various needs of industry.

Founded in 1959 by Harry Marsh, Commercial Safety College was created to address the shortage of truck drivers in Canada. Since that time it has changed hands twice and grown to include heavy machinery and general skills training. In 2003, Roy Nichols and his family purchased the college and are committed to continuing the college’s mission and respected reputation into the 21st century.

Celebrating 50 years in business this year, Nichols is pleased to be the owner for this milestone. "Fifty years shows that we are committed to sustainability as we continue to grow and diversify," says the Nova Scotia native who lives in the Valley and commutes to work.

Upwards of 200 students, from all over the Maritimes, pass through Commercial Safety College annually. The school prides itself on offering well-balanced programs and producing qualified entry-level drivers and operators.

The College is recognized across Canada as a leading skills training centre and is particularly well regarded by the various industries that it serves. Students with little or no truck driving experience can choose from two truck driving programs: "Straight Truck" (Class 3) or "Tractor Trailer" (Class 1). The Tractor Trailer option offers a unique combination of eight weeks in school followed by a four-week internship.

"We tell them their internship is like a four-week job interview because if they do a good job and impress their mentor, the chances of them being recommended for a job within that company are quite high," says Nichols. "It's a great way to get your foot in the door of the trucking industry and gain valuable experience."

With over 90 per cent of students finding work upon completion of their trucking programs, the Commercial Safety College must be doing something right. Nichols says that new drivers who pass the course and are genuinely interested in getting into the trucking industry have great success landing jobs and staying in Nova Scotia.

Truck driving is not all this school excels at. The College’s well qualified instructors also teach heavy equipment and general skills training. The twelve-week Heavy Equipment Operator program contains four modules: Excavator Operator, Dozer Operator, Backhoe Operator and Loader Operator. Students have the option of taking all four modules consecutively or only those that apply to them, with a certificate being issued upon successful completion of each module.

In addition, students can learn to operate forklifts, snow removal equipment, and can be trained on equipment specific to the forestry and mining industries. The school also offers first aid and supervisor leadership courses.

As a member of the Private Career Colleges of Nova Scotia, Commercial Safety College is also under regulation by the Department of Education.

"Every course we teach at the school and any training program that we advertise must be filed with the Department of Education," says Nichols. "They monitor and evaluate all our programs."

This situation has its advantages for students; namely that they can access student loans to attend any of the programs at the school.

The other side of Commercial Safety College's business is their customized training.

"Our corporate side of the business is fairly large," says Nichols, who reports ongoing contracts with a number of prominent businesses and government agencies throughout the Maritimes.

Perhaps most notably, Nichols and his team also instruct Department of National Defence trainers in the areas of motor coach and tractor trailers.

"DND sends their employees from across Canada to us for a three-week training course four times a year," says Nichols. "This is something we've done for well over 20 years."

When it comes to evaluations, industry relies heavily on the school. "People who are hiring truck drivers or equipment operators today want them evaluated first," says Nichols. "And we provide that."

In fact, the Commercial Safety College will travel to do evaluations on site for interested employers.

As part of his job, Nichols gets to travel around the province spreading the word about the Commercial Safety College. He offers pre-advertised information sessions, targeted to people who have an interest in the field.

Putting the rubber to the road is no hardship in Nova Scotia, says Nichols.

"It's a beautiful province with an excellent quality of life and plenty of opportunities." Nichols also feels fortunate to employ talented, committed people who love what they do. "We have a great group of people who are experts in trucking and heavy equipment and who are actively engaged in sharing their expertise and experience with our students."