Introduction
Did you know that Canada needs truck drivers? To meet demand, the Government of Canada has developed a number of immigration and work permit programs designed to help qualified applicants work as truck drivers in Canada. Knowing where you need the service most is important if you are interested. So I gave an overview of the top five Canadian states where you can find a job as a truck driver.
In Canada, there are several options for truck drivers to find employment. To mention a few, if you drive a truck, you could work in any of the following positions:
- Automobile carrier driver
- Cement truck driver – construction
- Mobile cement mixer driver
- Long-distance truck driver
- Bulk goods truck driver
- Escort- transportation
- Fuel oil truck driver
- Gravel haulier
- Log haulier
- Gasoline truck driver
Immigration Programs to work as Truck Drivers in Canada
To land one of the many truck driver jobs in Canada, you need to apply for a permit to work in Canada. So how do you apply for a Canadian work visa? There are several immigration programs you can apply to work as a truck driver in Canada. The top three programs in which you can apply for a work permit in Canada are:
Atlantic Immigration Pilot
Atlantic Immigration Pilots are targeted at skilled workers seeking permanent residence in one of Canada’s four Atlantic states: New Fund land and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Pilots are also open to foreign graduates who have completed their studies in these four federal states.
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot has three programmes, namely:
- Atlantic International Graduate Program
- Atlantic High-Skilled Program
- Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
If you plan to work as a truck driver in Canada, you should focus on the Atlantic Intermediate Skilled Program.
Applying for the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program entails:
- You have at least one year of professional experience in a job requiring a college education or practical training.
- You will need a high school diploma equivalent to a Canadian certificate.
- You must complete an Education Qualification (ECA) report to demonstrate this.
- You must take a certified language proficiency test to prove that you speak enough English or French to work and live in Canada.
- Whether or not you travel in Canada, you must provide proof of funding that meets the minimum requirements to support you and your dependents.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
You can also obtain a Canadian work visa as a truck driver through the state nominee program. Skilled workers can live and work in Canada’s 11 participating provinces and territories if PNP helps meet specific labour needs.
The 11 Provincial Nominee Programs include:
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- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NW PNP)
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
- Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NL PNP)
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP)
- Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP)
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Trucking is a popular profession, so applying through PNP increases your chances of success. Canada has created a unique scheme specifically for the truck business. The Long Distance Truck Driver Project is part of the
Saskatchewan Experience category of the State Nominee Program. This is to get the truck driver to bring the truck driver to Canada with a temporary foreign permit. If you successfully apply for a PNP in the selected state, you will be nominated for a residence permit.
Temporary Foreign Worker Permit
One way to get a Canadian work visa as a truck driver is to take advantage of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP). TFWP allows individuals who are neither Canadians nor permanent residents to work in Canada, where there is a labour shortage. Employers can use this programme to fill certain in-demand positions with overseas workers.
If you apply through TFWP and receive a job in Canada, an important part of the recruitment process is applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). A positive LMIA indicates that foreign workers are needed to fill the position. It also indicates that Canadian workers or permanent residents are not available for work. Positive LMIA is sometimes called a confirmation.
Where are these Trucker in Demand?
Truck drivers are needed throughout Canada, but the following states have the highest demand:
Alberta
Alberta is also in high demand for truck drivers. Positions available here include long-distance truck drivers, pilot truck drivers, heavy truck drivers, and gravel truck drivers. The average annual salary for a truck driver in Alberta is CAD 60k. Entry-level drivers can be expected to earn about CAD 45k a year, while the most experienced drivers can earn up to CAD 73k a year here.
British Columbia (BC)
Next is British Columbia. British Columbia has different types of truck driver jobs. These include long-distance drivers and timber carrier drivers. The type of truck work you do will determine the compensation you can earn. Generally, the average salary of a British Columbia truck driver is CAD 55k. The highest revenue you can expect here is CAD 75k per year, and the lowest is CAD 40k per year. This usually depends on how much experience you have.
Nova Scotia
The third is Nova Scotia. Truck jobs available here include delivery truck drivers, truck drivers, concrete mixer car drivers, heavy truck drivers, and dump truck drivers. The average salary of a Nova Scotia truck driver is CAD 54k per year. Beginners can expect to earn about CAD 40k a year, while the most experienced drivers can expect to earn about CAD 65k a year.
Ontario
Many trucking jobs available in Ontario include medical equipment delivery, garbage truck drivers, yard truck drivers, and box truck drivers. The average salary for truck drivers in Ontario is CAD 60k per year. Entry-level drivers earn about CAD 45k a year, while the most experienced drivers earn up to CAD 75k annually.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan has a high demand for truck drivers, especially long-distance drivers. An immigration program called the Long Distance Truck Driver Project has been launched to meet this great need. This is part of the Nominee Experiences category in Saskatchewan. This project aims to get a truck company to hire long-distance drivers to work in Canada with a temporary foreign permit. How Much Does a Truck Driver Make Here? The average annual salary for a truck driver in Saskatchewan is CAD 55k. Beginner-level workers can expect to earn about CAD 40k a year, and experienced workers can earn up to CAD 68k yearly.
Conclusion
Although you don’t need work experience to drive a truck in Canada, having it can boost your chances of getting accepted into a certain immigration programme, if you apply for an express entry, your previous work experience in the area you want to work in can increase your chances of success.
FAQs
Do I require an LMIA to drive trucks in Canada?
Yes. All companies must apply the federal Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process to employ foreign truck drivers as temporary foreign workers.
Is it worth being a truck driver in Canada?
Yes, it is. As a truck driver in Canada, the demand for truck drivers is increasing in various states so that you can work with peace of mind. Canadian truck drivers also earn a healthy salary. Companies usually also offer bonuses to new drivers.
What are the qualifications to be a truck driver in Canada?
You must complete three months of approved driver training at a vocational school or adult education centre. Driving a straight-body truck requires a Category 3 or D driver’s license. You need a Category 1 or driver’s license to drive a long combination.
What do truck drivers make in Canada?
Canadian truck drivers can earn an annual salary from CAD 30k to CAD 80k. Entry-level positions start at CAD 40k, and high-paying long-distance drivers earn up to CAD 80k a year. The average annual salary for Canadian truck drivers.