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EDMONTON — Alberta announced Sunday it has joined several other provinces in accepting military credentials for commercial driving licences.

The province said in a news release that the agreement will allow current and retired Canadian Forces members to operate commercial vehicles without additional testing.

It said that previously, military veterans were unable to transfer their credentials when they left the military.

“This will help veterans move into civilian life and increase economic stability for veterans and their families,” said Transportation Minister Brian Mason.

Specifically, the agreement allows conversion from the DND 404 licence to Alberta drivers licence classes 1 through 5.

That would allow applicants to drive semi-tractors, large trucks, buses and limousines.

The province said the move will address labour shortages in the commercial trucking industry.

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“As the industry faces a shortage of experienced and qualified professionals, we welcome the opportunity to provide employment to these former members of the military,” said Dan Duckering, Chair of the Alberta Motor Transport Association Board of Directors.

The province says it signed the agreement in June. Since then, two retired and 47 active members of the Canadian Forces have applied. Of those, it says more than two-thirds have transitioned to Alberta drivers licences.

Other provinces, including Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador already recognize Department of National Defence 404 equivalencies.