They have a saying at High Test Enterprises: “Wanna get paid to stare out the window all day?”
Given that High Test is a Class 1 training centre, the phrase is a playful one. It speaks to careers in trucking that many drivers aspire to. But it’s especially meaningful to Reade Lalonde, who coined it.
“I have ADHD, so when I was in school I used to stare outside,” he says. “I hated being in school, and they used to say that I’d never get anywhere staring out the window.”
In fact, the opposite happened. Lalonde now owns and operates High Test Enterprises in Moose Jaw, where he’s a trusted trainer of Class 1 drivers. He also had the business savvy to fill a void in the area.
“Historically, if someone wanted to get their license they’d have to go away from home to do the training,” he says. “We’re also local here, so those were the biggest reasons we set up in Moose Jaw.”
High Test works in partnership with SGI, which oversees driver’s licensing and vehicle registration in Saskatchewan. A four-week course is mandatory for prospective Class 1 drivers and prepares them to operate heavy trucks safely on the road. Safety, says Lalonde, is really why does what he does.
“My goal is to put a safe driver on the road. If they’re here and they learn to be safe drivers, the exam shouldn’t be a problem,” he says.
Class 1 training at High Test Enterprises costs $11,500 and includes 47 hours in the classroom, 57 hours of in-cab training and 17.5 hours of pre-trip and air brake procedures. Those are significant commitments – both the fee and the time – and it’s why Lalonde is intentional about accommodating participants’ busy schedules.
“We’re flexible,” he says. “I’ll do evenings to help people. We’ll work with whatever schedule a participant has. It doesn’t have to be 8-5.”
Lalonde also recommends that prospective trainees undergo their physical exam and have their learner’s permit prior to enrolling. But those things can be looked after during the program, if necessary.
Drivers interested in taking their Class 1 can contact Lalonde by emailing school.hightestenterprises@gmail.com. They can also call (306) 313-9854, and their website has additional program details.
