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The Humboldt Broncos bus crash is the “impetus” behind a mandatory training program for truck drivers being introduced early next year, says Alberta Transportation.

Transportation Minister Brian Mason made the announcement in Calgary on Tuesday, a little more than three months after the April 6 crash at a rural intersection in Saskatchewan that killed 16 people and injured 13 others.

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He said the province had been working on improved training regulations last year but the tragic crash put trucking safety “on the front burner” for the ministry.

Mason said the mandatory entry-level training program will start in January 2019 along with a number of other safety regulation changes, including possible safety compliance reviews for all new carriers “within nine to 12 months” of a company starting operations.

The province says the mandatory training will apply to anyone seeking their Class 1 (tractor trailer), 2 (bus), and S (school bus) licences.