Driving Success: Thacker Harvesting’s Driver Training Story

For nearly three decades, owner Shawn Thacker provided in-house training for his employees at Thacker Harvesting, an Alberta-based grain harvesting company. During this time, he ensured his team met industry standards for driver safety and performance specific to the agricultural industry. However, the company faced a challenge when the Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) program was introduced in 2019. The MELT program focused on mandatory skills necessary for the broader transportation industry, and Shawn realized the need to provide his team with professional driver training to meet the new industry standards.

In their search for a driver training school, Thacker Harvesting needed a team that would manage a training program that met the Alberta standards while remaining relevant in the larger agricultural sector. After a less-than-satisfactory experience with a different training school, Thacker Harvesting approached Safety Buzz Campus (SBC) about providing their driver training. 

Thacker Harvesting and SBC worked together to find time slots where employees would visit the training school, learn the expected skills, and complete their training hours. From there, they would help the employees prepare for the final examination in order to obtain the Class 1 MELT. By providing the training to Thacker Harvesting drivers, SBC was able to ease the burden placed on the small team. 

“SBC getting the guys trained and to pass the course has been pretty much effortless on our part,” notes Shawn Thacker. “ They take care of everything.”

Shawn approached SBC about adding modules to their training that were more industry-specific, since his team typically does short, on-farm hauls rather than commercial ones. “They’ve gone above and beyond to make sure it incorporates what I’d seen was missing from the MELT program and what we were seeing the guys were lacking. Safety Buzz adapted and added to the course for what we needed.”

There was another significant side to their partnership that eased the burden placed on Thacker Harvesting. The cost to obtain a Class 1 MELT licence is significant, but SBC worked with them to secure grant funding that covered these costs. Grants like the Canada-Alberta Job Grant (CAJG) program provide funding to help cover the costs of training employees. SBC worked with Thacker Harvesting to assess and secure funding opportunities that would relieve some of the financial stress of training the team. 

“It gives us another avenue to get good young employees to join our crew, when we can offer that we can get them their Class 1 MELT at no cost to them,” Shawn noted.  “Because it is a big expense. It’s over 11,000 dollars to get a Class 1.

Attracting young employees is a priority for Thacker Harvesting, and the partnership with SBC has helped them build a strong, qualified workforce. Shawn notes that “we’re trying to provide meaningful employment and upskills for these young employees that they can use further in life.” SBC ensures that their employees are properly trained to meet standards specific to the agricultural industry and relevant to the larger commercial driving industry, so they can build their careers on a strong foundation.

This partnership has also allowed Shawn to focus more closely on the inner workings of the business, since he can trust that the driver training is well taken care of. He states, “It enables me to focus more on my business and not so much on having our own training stuff anymore. Someone else doing more of the workload for me.” Not only can he rest assured that his employees are set up for success in the field, his own clients have the knowledge that the team is qualified to do the work safely and efficiently.

By securing funding and providing training that goes beyond the requirements of the Class 1 MELT, SBC has helped this small business confidently navigate the complex needs of the agricultural industry. 

For Shawn Thacker, the benefits of partnering with SBC were immediately evident. Between the convenience and effectiveness of the training program to the assistance accessing grant funding, the Thacker Harvesting team has seen great success a year into their relationship. Since partnering with SBC in Spring 2022, 11 of Thacker Harvesting’s drivers have successfully obtained their Class 1 MELT licence. 

By choosing Safety Buzz Campus as their driver training school, Thacker Harvesting has gained a reliable and dedicated partner that goes beyond the standard training requirements. Safety Buzz Campus has customized their program to meet their specific needs, managed the training process effectively, and provided exceptional customer service throughout the journey. The positive impacts on safety, operational efficiency, and talent recruitment continue to be instrumental in Thacker Harvesting's ongoing success.