RGDA

Bring tomorrow’s technicians into your shop—with support at every step

TestDrive connects motivated high-school students with real automotive workplaces for short, structured placements. You provide a safe, supervised environment—students gain hands-on experience, and you discover future talent.

  • ✔ Employer-paid summer placement (200 hours, Jul–Aug)
  • ✔ Liability coverage included
  • ✔ Simple onboarding & support
  • ✔ Flexible scheduling within July–August

TestDrive Employer Quick Interest Form

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30+
Participating schools
250+
Employer hosts
250+
Student placements
96%
Avg. placement satisfaction

Why host a TestDrive student?

Build your talent pipeline while contributing to your community.

Recruit earlier

Meet candidates before graduation and hire top performers into entry-level roles.

Low risk, high support

Placement insurance, safety guidelines, and program staff support are built-in.

Real shop value

Students assist with prep, inspections, detailing, and more as they learn.

How it works

Step 1 • Tell us about your shop

Share your focus areas, hours, and supervisor.

Step 2 • We handle onboarding

Safety and workplace readiness training are covered before day one.

Step 3 • Host the placement

Paid summer placement totalling ~200 hours in July–August.

Step 4 • Hire if it’s a fit

Many hosts offer continuing employment to standout students.

Pay & scheduling

Pay guidance

The placement is employer-paid: a minimum of 200 hours during July–August. Employers set the hourly wage at or above the applicable provincial/territorial minimum wage and follow employment standards.

Example schedules (200 hours)

  • 8 weeks × 25 h/week (5 days a week, 5 h/day)
  • 6 weeks × 35 h/week (5 days a week, 7.5 h/day)
  • Custom blend (e.g., 4 days/week at ~6–8 h/day)

Schedules should remain within provincial employment standards and any school board guidance.

Wage calculator (estimate)




Wages subtotalCA$3,600.00
Remittance costs est.CA$0.00
Total estimatedCA$3,600.00

This tool provides an estimate only. Actual payroll costs vary by jurisdiction and employer. Please consult your payroll provider for exact deductions and contributions.

Program support

The placement is paid by the employer. Our team provides guides and ongoing support to make hosting simple and safe.

  • Placement agreement & safety checklist
  • Pre-placement orientation for students
  • On-call support during placements
Talk to our team
View safety checklist

Placement models

Intro (Job Shadow)

1–2 days of observation with light hands-on tasks.

Summer Placement

Paid summer placement · ~200 hours (Jul–Aug) following a simple work plan.

Future Careers

Convert top students into permanent roles.

What host employers say

“The student was great to have in the shop and showed staff that youth are still interested in trade.”

Ryan, South Shore Tire

“With this experience, students are better prepared to make a career choice.”

Danny, Phillip LeBlanc Diesel Repair Ltd

Employer resources

Employer Guide (PDF)

Everything you need to host a placement.

 

Employer Onboarding and Mentoring Guide (PDF)

Define tasks and learning goals.

 

Safety Checklist (PDF)

Responsibilities and daily safety.

Employer FAQ

Are students covered by insurance during placements?

Yes. Liability coverage is provided through the school insurance program. This does prevent students from operating vehicles during the summer placement period.

What tasks can students perform?

Students begin with observation and light tasks. A sample work plan outlines activities such as shop prep, inspections support, detailing, and parts handling.

How much time does supervision require?

Hosts designate a supervisor who provides daily check-ins and basic coaching. We offer a simple tracker and touch points to keep it efficient.

Is there a cost to participate?

Yes. The TestDrive placement is employer-paid: 200 hours during July and August.

Ready to host a TestDrive student?

Email the team