If you are someone who loves the thrill of the open road, truck driving is a profession with a lot to offer. Perfect for people who love to drive and explore the world, truck driving is an accessible profession, one that is always in high demand, and offers a world of opportunities for the right kind of person.
The conditions within Canada’s trucking industry are constantly improving, providing increased safety and earning potential for anyone with a commercial trucking license. Although specific licensing requirements vary from province to province (or territory), and the type of truck driving license you want to pursue, they all offer a blend of theory and practical lessons to help students master all aspects of the road.
A motivated student can get a commercial driver’s license in a relatively short amount of time, which is why this career path remains so popular. Also, finding trucking jobs is faster and easier than ever before, thanks to Truckker, the truck driver agency at your fingertips!
There are many sub categories in the truck driver profession. There are drivers who operate heavy trucks to transport goods across provinces and into the US while others can remain within a city to operate a moving van or delivery truck. There is a wide variety of truck driver jobs for people to choose from, ensuring that they’ll find one that suits their needs and preferences. However, an individual must have a specific driver’s license that matches the class of truck they use for their work. license requirements differ between provinces and territories. For example:
To become a truck driver with a Class A license in Ontario, you need to be 18 years or older,
hold a valid Ontario license (other than G1, G2, M, M1 or M2), as well as completing:
Your training will require exercises in the classroom and in the truck. The first day of training usually sees students take an air brake endorsement class to gain a “Z” endorsement on your license. This is essential for operating commercial trucks and required to complete your studies.
Once you pass your ministry road exam, you will gain a full A Class license in Ontario!
With a full A Class license, you can drive the following:
Note: You cannot drive a bus with passengers with a Class A license.
Always consult each province’s government website for information regarding truck driver license requirements. Additionally, license classes may differ; for example, Ontario uses letters (Class A) while Quebec uses numbers (Class 1).
To become a truck driver in Canada, most provinces and territories require you to complete an accredited training course that takes a minimum of three months to complete.
In February 2020, it was decided that future truck drivers will be required to complete 112 hours of training to earn their Class A or Class 1 license with the air brake endorsement. This breaks down into:
According to the Government of Canada, in the years ahead truck drivers will be in high demand in several provinces, including British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. Furthered by the widespread labour shortage affecting the North American economy, there will be ample opportunities for new truckers to join the ranks going forward, as demand is only expected to increase.
Between 2019 and 2028, it’s expected that transport truck driver positions will increase to 119,900 due to expansion and replacement demands. The Canadian government predicts that 96,600 new job seekers, including graduating students and immigrants, will be available to answer the demands.
This shortfall is good news for new truck drivers for hire entering the workforce because they will have an easy time finding work opportunities. New drivers will be able to put their license to good use, earn good money and gain experience in no time!
If you want to capitalize on these opportunities use the platform designed specifically for commercial drivers to find jobs from the top carriers in the industry: Truckker!
Getting truck driving jobs in Canada requires certain qualifications, but, once you’re licensed, finding jobs is easier than most people realize. Truckers are absolutely essential to our economy, so they will always be needed. With the looming labour shortfall on the horizon, the job prospects for truck drivers will only improve!
With the Truckker app, it’s easier to find jobs in Canada than if you were browsing job boards on your own. It saves time and provides opportunities across the country, depending on what you want to do. Our recruiters vet applicants to ensure that they hold the proper credentials and are available for the requested time period. Once you’ve been verified, you can create your profile and set up your job alerts. With job-matching technology, Truckker works behind the scenes to match your profile to our database of job positions. Our company has over 35 years of experience in the transportation, logistics, and supply chain industries.
Learn more about our awesome app, or sign up now!
