Blue dump truck unloading material at a construction site with yellow bulldozer nearby

External Certification

DZ Truck Driver

The DZ Truck Driver program trains students to safely operate heavy vehicles, including dump trucks and snowplows. It combines classroom instruction with hands-on driving practice to prepare graduates for careers in municipal and commercial sectors.

Program Start Options

IntakeDurationFormatCampusDomesticInternational
9735
Any Time
Up to 160 hours
Full-Time
In-Person
Thunder Bay
Domestic students accepted
International students not accepted

Become a First-Class DZ Truck Driver, Earn Better Pay

In Thunder Bay and across Canada, commercial truck drivers are in high demand, earning above average incomes. The trucking industry has changed significantly with greater emphasis on safety, health, prevention, and accountability.

The career itself involves the operation of heavy vehicles to transport goods and materials up to 4,600 kg/10,000 lb., but not exceeding this weight. The opportunity for employment in municipal works as a driver could include dump trucks, cement mixers, street snowplows, rescue vehicles, fire trucks, tow trucks, garbage trucks and similar vehicles.

Top Highlights

  • Courses follow industry standards and practices so you are ready for the job market
  • Classroom and practical training, including driving, yard, pre-trip and observation
  • Hands-on training in the yard and on the road using class D vehicles while under the instruction of a qualified trainer
  • Drive time includes real world scenarios and trips on highways, city streets and back roads
  • All in-cab training and the final Road Test will be operating a manual transmission vehicle on an MTO-approved route
  • Strong emphasis on defensive driving

Upcoming Delivery Start Dates

  • Thunder Bay, ON
  • Northwestern Ontario Regional Locations

Contact Information

Contact Contract Training to apply to the program.

Confederation College

Contract Training

contracttraining@confederationcollege.ca

(807) 473-3723

Contact Information

Program Files

Get detailed information about program requirements, courses, and student resources.

Admission Requirements

Any Time

Any Time (9735)

Admission Requirements for Domestic Students

Program participants must:

  1. Possess a valid Ontario full class “G” driver’s licence.
  2. Obtain an Ontario Driver’s Abstract(opens in new window) from Service Ontario.
  3. Obtain a completed Ministry of Transportation Ontario Medical Report(opens in new window)

Admission Requirements for International Students

This intake is not available for international students.

Student Accessibility and Essential Program Requirements

Confederation College is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive learning environment and will provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and College policy.

Students who require accommodations are encouraged to engage with Student Accessibility Services and are responsible for initiating and participating in the accommodation process. Accommodation is a collaborative process involving the student, Student Accessibility Services, faculty, and the Academic School. Requests for accommodation are considered on an individual basis, and the College will work with students to identify reasonable accommodations that provide equitable access to learning while maintaining the integrity of the program.

Students are expected to demonstrate the essential knowledge, skills, professional behaviours, learning outcomes, and competencies required to successfully complete their program. While the manner in which these requirements are demonstrated may be accommodated where appropriate, the essential requirements themselves must still be achieved.

For programs involving laboratories, field work, clinical placements, aviation environments, trades training, equipment operation, simulations, community placements, or other environments where health and safety are critical, accommodations must also be consistent with applicable legislation, professional standards, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and workplace safety obligations.

In some circumstances, a requested accommodation may not be reasonable or possible where it would:

  • Fundamentally alter an essential program requirement, competency, or learning outcome.
  • Compromise the health or safety of the student or others.
  • Conflict with provincial or federal legislation.
  • Conflict with the requirements of an external regulatory, licensing, accreditation, or professional body.
  • Prevent the student from demonstrating competencies required for safe and effective professional practice.
Note

Where a particular accommodation cannot be provided, the College will work collaboratively with the student to identify whether an alternative accommodation can appropriately address the student’s disability-related needs while maintaining essential program requirements.

Tuition & Fees

Includes theory and practical training, course resources and testing fees

  • $7,000 + HST Thunder Bay
  • $9,000 + HST Northwestern Ontario Region
Note

Please note that fees are estimated and are subject to change.

Fees shown on this page are for full-time students attending the main Thunder Bay campus for Fall 2026.

Costing for Regional Campuses & Distance Education Students:

If this program is available at Regional Campuses, or to Distance Education students, see the following links for costing information.

Courses

1 intake

Topics Covered in the Program

  1. Air Brake
  2. Basic Driving Techniques
  3. Documents, Paperwork and Regulatory Requirements
  4. Employment in the Commercial Vehicle Industry
  5. Fuel Efficiency
  6. Handling Emergencies
  7. Hours of Service Compliance
  8. Operating Drive Time
  9. Professional Driving Habits
  10. Real World Scenarios
  11. Recruiting/Employment Preparation
  12. Tractor-Trailer Off-Road Tasks and Manoeuvres
  13. Transportation Review
  14. Vehicle Components & Systems
  15. Vehicle Inspection Activities
Any Time9735

Semester 1

YC 658

DZ Practical

25 hours
YC 659

DZ Theory

16 hours

Meet the Program Staff

1 staff member

Careers

Upon graduation, you will possess the necessary skill set to seek employment as a truck driver for a variety of vehicles:

  • dump truck,
  • cement mixers,
  • street snowplows,
  • rescue vehicles,
  • fire trucks,
  • tow truck driver
  • and garbage trucks.

Employment Services

Free employment services for all students through the Northwest Employment Works (NEW). Services include connecting job-seekers to employers and offering one-on-one career advising, resume assistance and interview preparation and techniques.

Pathways

Confederation College offers a variety of articulation agreements designed to help you advance your education and career. Whether you're coming to us from another institution or planning your next steps after completing your program, our pathways make your transition seamless and effective.

Students at Confederation College

We're here to help

Have questions before you apply?

Not sure if this is the right fit? Our recruitment team can help you navigate admission requirements, program details, and campus life.