How to get a Class 1 licence in Saskatchewan
How to get a Class 1 semi-truck licence in Saskatchewan: who can apply, the commercial medical report, SGI's written papers, the learner endorsement, air brakes, Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT), the trip inspection and road test, and costs. Every fact links to SGI's Professional Driver's Handbook.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
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- Checked October 17, 2026
A Saskatchewan Class 1 licence lets you drive semi-trailer trucks and every lower class of vehicle. SGI tests applicants on several written papers, a vision test, a trip inspection, coupling and uncoupling, and a road test in a Class 1 unit you provide, and every new Class 1 driver must first complete Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT).
This guide lists the steps in order, the papers you write, what to bring on road test day and the vehicle problems that get a test rescheduled. Each fact links to the section of SGI's Professional Driver's Handbook it comes from. The handbook does not list exam fees, so confirm costs on MySGI or with a motor licence issuer before you book.
Step by step
Check that you qualify
You must be at least 18, not a novice driver and medically fit. The Class 1 route then requires knowledge tests, a vision test, MELT, a trip inspection on a Class 1 vehicle and a road test in a Class 1 vehicle.
Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1 licenceGet the Commercial Driver's Licence Medical Report approved
Submit a Commercial Driver's Licence Medical Report, completed by a physician, nurse practitioner or occupational health and safety nurse. It must be submitted and approved before any testing starts.
Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1-4 medical standardsStudy three handbooks
The knowledge exams are based on SGI's Professional Driver's Handbook, the Saskatchewan Driver's Handbook and the Air Brake Manual, plus other practical questions.
Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — ExaminationsWrite the Class 1 papers and the vision test
Class 1 applicants write six papers: Sign (30 questions), Basic Class 5 (20), Class 1 (20), Class 2 (15), Class 3 (10) and Class 4 (10). Each knowledge exam can be attempted once per day, and the vision test is part of the same appointment.
Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — ExaminationsPractise with a learner endorsement
Passing the written tests, with the vision and medical standards met, lets your licence be endorsed to learn a higher class. While learning, you must be accompanied by a driver who holds, and has held for 365 days within the last three years, a valid licence for that class.
Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — EndorsementsAdd the air brake endorsement
To drive a vehicle with air brakes you need Endorsement A: pass the written air brake test, show how to adjust a manual slack adjuster and explain how to adjust an automatic one, and complete a practical demonstration on air brake equipment you provide.
Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — EndorsementsComplete Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT)
Every Class 1 applicant completes at least 121.5 hours of training before the road test: 47 hours in the classroom or online, 17.5 hours in the yard and 57 hours behind the wheel, across 11 modules that must each be passed. SGI lists certified instructors at sgi.sk.ca/drivereducator.
Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1 licenceBook the road test
MELT must be completed before you schedule the road test; your training school updates your SGI customer file. Pay at a motor licence issuer and call 1-844-TLK-2SGI (1-844-855-2744) to book, or call that number to book and pay by credit card.
Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — ExaminationsPass the trip inspection and road test
In the Class 1 trip inspection you check a randomized block of components, list the defects and say what you would do. The road test in traffic includes a highway turn-about, offset and alley dock backing, and coupling and uncoupling a trailer. In a standard transmission you show clutch use through all gears, splitting the top range on 13- or 18-speed boxes.
Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
Who can get it
- At least 18 years old and not a novice driver. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1 licence
- You are a novice if you hold a Class 7 licence or a Class 5 with a Novice 1 or Novice 2 restriction; novices cannot get a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 licence. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Saskatchewan's classified driver's licence program
- An approved Commercial Driver's Licence Medical Report; conditions such as seizure disorders, some heart or insulin-dependent diabetic conditions, blackouts or vision and hearing problems may prevent a Class 1. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1-4 medical standards
- Completion of Mandatory Entry-Level Training before the road test. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1 licence
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge exams (all papers) | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations |
| Class 1 road test and trip inspection | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations |
| Mandatory Entry-Level Training | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1 licence |
| Commercial Driver's Licence Medical Report | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1-4 medical standards |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
Tests are held at SGI driver exam offices. Book and pre-pay knowledge exams online at MySGI, or call or visit a motor licence issuer. Walk-ins are accepted in the Regina and Saskatoon Central offices from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Saturday (not on Saturdays of long weekends); elsewhere you need an appointment. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
What to bring or have ready
- For the road test: a three-axle power unit and a trailer of at least 48 feet. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
- A driver licensed for the class of vehicle used, to accompany you to the testing site. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
- A safe vehicle with a valid safety inspection decal, no dangerous goods placard and a clean cab with a standard manufacturer's seat for the examiner. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
- The applicable inspection schedule and a trip inspection report completed as the regulations require. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
- For the air brake practical: an air brake equipped vehicle that you provide. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
After you pass
A Class 1 licence lets you drive power units with semi-trailers and trucks towing more than 4,600 kg, plus Class 2, 3, 4 and 5 vehicles. It does not cover vehicles with air brakes, motorcycles or school buses without the matching endorsement. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1 licence
Validity and renewal
SGI asks for new medical reports every five years for drivers aged 18 to 45, every three years from 46 to 65 and every year from 66. An unsatisfactory medical can add an L restriction, which bars Class 2, Class 4 and rideshare vehicles. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1-4 medical standards
Common mistakes
- Applying while still a novice. A Class 7 or a Class 5 with a Novice 1 or Novice 2 restriction rules out Class 1. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Saskatchewan's classified driver's licence program
- Booking tests before the medical report is approved. No testing starts until it is. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Class 1-4 medical standards
- Studying only for the Class 1 paper. Class 1 applicants also write the Sign, Basic Class 5 and Class 2, 3 and 4 papers. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
- Testing in an automatic or electronic shift truck without expecting the restriction to those transmissions that may follow. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
- Bringing a unit with a dangerous goods placard, no safety inspection decal or no completed trip inspection report: the road test is rescheduled. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
- Missing an appointment without cancelling, which means paying for the rescheduled one. Source: SGI Professional Driver's Handbook — Examinations
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- Saskatchewan Commercial practice tests254 original practice questions with explanations
- Saskatchewan Commercial study guideFree Saskatchewan Commercial study guide: 481 key points from the SGI Professional Driver's Handbook in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- Saskatchewan Commercial Mock Exam 1 – 73 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Saskatchewan Commercial exam simulator73 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
We last checked the official pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get a Class 1 licence in Saskatchewan: common questions
How much does a Class 1 licence cost in Saskatchewan?
SGI's Professional Driver's Handbook does not list the exam or road test fees, so check MySGI or ask a motor licence issuer. MELT is usually the largest cost, and each certified driving school sets its own price.
How many questions are on the SGI Class 1 test?
The Class 1 paper has 20 questions, but Class 1 applicants write six papers: Sign 30, Basic Class 5 20, Class 1 20, Class 2 15, Class 3 10 and Class 4 10. The air brake paper adds 18.
How long is MELT in Saskatchewan?
At least 121.5 hours: 47 in the classroom or online, 17.5 in the yard and 57 behind the wheel, in 11 modules that must each be passed.
Can I get a Class 1 with a Class 5 novice licence?
No. Drivers with a Class 7, or a Class 5 showing a Novice 1 or Novice 2 restriction, are novices and cannot obtain a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 licence.
Do I need an air brake endorsement for Class 1?
You need Endorsement A to drive any vehicle equipped with air brakes. Without it you may drive one only as a learner, accompanied by someone whose licence has Endorsement A.
Can MELT be waived for experienced drivers from abroad?
If your licence is from a reciprocal country outside Canada and the U.S., SGI may waive MELT with acceptable proof of 5 years of Class 1 experience in the past 10 years, such as a driver's abstract or an official letter from your home jurisdiction.
Where can I practise for the SGI Class 1 written tests?
Use our free Saskatchewan commercial practice tests, with separate practice pages for each class and for air brakes and a timed mock exam, all written from SGI's Professional Driver's Handbook and Air Brake Manual. For the Sign and Basic papers, use our Saskatchewan Class 7 practice tests.
Keep practising
- SGI Class 4 practice test50 original practice questions for SGI's Class 4 paper: driver condition, following distance, braking, trip inspections, taxis and emergency vehicles. Free, with handbook pages.
- SGI Class 1 practice testFree practice questions for SGI's 20-question Class 1 paper: coupling and uncoupling, trains, MELT, the Class 1 trip inspection and tractor-trailer handling.
- SGI Class 3 practice test40 practice questions for SGI's Class 3 paper: weights and dimensions, off-tracking and turns, loads and securement, bills of lading and dangerous goods.
- SGI Class 2 practice testFree practice questions for SGI's 15-question Class 2 paper: bus operation, passenger safety, railway crossings, school buses and the Class 2 trip inspection.
- SGI air brake test50 practice questions for SGI's 18-question air brake paper: components, governor pressures, dual circuits, spring brakes, tractor-trailer systems and adjustment.
- Saskatchewan Commercial study guide
- Saskatchewan Commercial Mock Exam 1 – 73 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Saskatchewan Commercial Mock Exam 2 – 73 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Saskatchewan Commercial Practice Test 125 questions with explanations
- Saskatchewan Commercial Practice Test 225 questions with explanations
- Saskatchewan Commercial Practice Test 325 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- Licence classes, endorsements and examsWhat Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 licences allow, novice-driver limits, A, G and S endorsements, learner endorsements, the knowledge papers each class writes, Class 1 MELT and commercial medical standards.
- Driver condition, speed and following distanceDistraction, fatigue, alcohol and drugs, night vision and glare, the six driving conditions, traffic tempo, the time-based following count for long vehicles, tailgaters, intersections, railway crossings and the danger zone.
- Braking, passing, parking and backingSmooth stops, downgrades and retarders, combination braking, ABS warning lights, passing and being passed, curves, gear shifting, mirrors, parking on grades, warning devices for stopped vehicles, and safe backing.
- Tires, fire safety, fuel efficiency and winter drivingTire pressure and heat, tire matching, carbon monoxide, fire prevention and extinguishers, flares, fuel-saving habits and idling, plus the essential winter checks and the six hazards of winter driving.
- Vehicle condition and trip inspectionsThe PMVI program and inspection decals, who needs a daily trip inspection, Schedules 1 to 3, minor and major defects, the trip inspection report, the circle check order, brake response tests, en route and post-trip checks, and lighting.
- Taxis, ambulances, emergency and tow vehiclesWhat Class 4 covers for hire, criminal record checks and the T restriction, emergency vehicle rules and the duties of other drivers, slowing to 60 km/h, tow truck lights and taxi driving practices.
- Vehicle weights and dimensionsLegal length, width and height limits, A, B and C trains, axle definitions, overheight and power lines, red flags, clearance and amber lights, weight systems, spring road bans, permits and weigh scales.
- Truck handling: off-tracking, turns and turn-aboutsTurning radius and off-track, positioning for curves, left and right turns with a long unit, steering a semi-trailer backward, U-turns and the highway three-point and two-point turn-abouts.
- Loads, cargo securement and bills of ladingWeight distribution on trucks and trailers, securing and covering loads, overhang flags and lights, special cargos and livestock, prohibited shipments and what a bill of lading must contain.
- Transporting dangerous goodsReporting duties, TDG training certificates, consignor, carrier and consignee responsibilities, the nine hazard classes, labels, placards and UN numbers, routes and where the shipping document goes.
- Buses and passenger safetyClass 2 buses, loading zones, bus turns and leaving the curb, passenger precautions, railway crossings with passengers, standing passengers, refusing passage and the Class 2 bus trip inspection.
- School buses and the S endorsementWho may drive a school bus, re-testing every five years, safety lights and stop arm distances, what a school bus driver must and must not do, railway crossing steps, loading and unloading students.
- Coupling, uncoupling and trainsCoupling and uncoupling a tractor-trailer with air ride suspension step by step, tug tests, landing gear, hooking up a pup-train and converter dolly, safety chains, draw-bar rules and breakaway brakes.
- Tractor-trailer operation and the Class 1 licenceWhat a Class 1 licence covers, MELT training hours, the Class 1 road and trip inspection test, fifth-wheel checks, combination braking, jackknifing, offset and alley dock backing, and heavy trailers.
- Air brakes: who needs the A endorsement and braking principlesWhen the A endorsement is required, heat, friction and traction, how weight and speed change braking power, leverage and air pressure, and the three parts of stopping distance.
- Air brake components and system operationCompressor and governor pressures, reservoirs and draining, foot valve, brake chambers, S-cam brakes and disc brakes, safety valve, check valves, gauges, relay and quick-release valves, low air warning, ratio valve and air dryer.
- Dual-circuit systems and spring brakesPrimary and secondary circuits, what happens when one fails, spring-brake chambers, parking-brake valves and the pressures at which spring brakes drag and apply, compounding, blended air, the modulator valve and caging.
- Tractor and trailer air systemsThe tractor protection system, trailer-supply valve, supply and service lines, gladhands, the hand valve, relay emergency valve, breakaways and line ruptures, bobtail valve and trailer spring brakes.
- Brake adjustment and air brake pre-trip testsWhy poor adjustment causes brake failure, push rod stroke limits, manual and automatic slack adjusters, the hammer test, service tests, steep downgrade checks, and pre-trip air tests for single and combination units.