Agrees training needed

Re. Kerry Sledge's letter Better trining for drivers (Castanet, April 6)

I agree partially with Kerry Sledge, better training is needed for transport (truck) drivers.

What the letter doesn't mention is mandatory training and a test for a foreign drivers coming to work in Canada. There are a number of reciprocal agreements with other countries that allow for a direct swap of license without having to be tested.

When I was transferred from Ontario to B.C. I was able to swap my Ontario Class F licence for a B.C. Class 4 licence.

I only needed a new medical because my Ontario one was more than a year old. There was no written test, just paperwork and a payment. Thank goodness I'd been travelling to B.C. since 1988 and was aware a flashing green light was a pedestrian walk signal and not an advance left turn signal.

One only has to watch a few episodes of the television program Highway through Hell to see newly arrived drivers not being dressed for the weather or not knowing how to chain up.

Even the Humbolt Broncos tragedy had a lot to do with driver training, or a lack of it.

M. Boyer, Kelowna