Canada - British Expat Forum

I have held my class 2 licence for 3yrs and I am taking my class 1 in the next few weeks as it seems the best way to get into Canada.

Can anyone tell me what it’s like to drive over in Canada?

What are the best ways to look for trucking companies who take on UK drivers?

Can anyone tell me how much class 1 experience is needed by trucking companies in Canada?

Is it worth the move as I have a young boy and this country is doing my head in?

Dave

Hi Dave, you can get a job as a driver quite easy over here but your uk class 1 is no good .You will have to re do your test here. I moved last year I am a truck mechanic but also drove in europe for around 8years.
I was thinking of going back to the driving over here.So i went to check out the procedures for Ontario.You do need to do a medical a writen test and then the practical. It costs about $85 for med. and the same for the writen and practical. You do not need to go through a driving school but from what I have driven so far Internationals and freightliners I would get some practice before a test.They all seem to have the Eaton crash box.So gear timing is a must.I still miss driving the cab overs!!
I hope this is a help Dave . Good luck!

Hi peter,

Thank you for your reply. i have been told that i need a min of 2yrs driving exp of class 1 truck driving as the companies wont take you on. i take it i will have to re do everything (car and lorry) once i get into canada.

i take it Internationals and freightliners are makes of units they use out in canada? also what is a eaton crash box, never heard of them before. is it like are 4 on 4 gear boxes or totaly different. is driving in canada better than the uk.

Dave

Hi Dave , That is correct you will need to re sit. In Ontario you can just swap your car licence.Check out truck mags and papers they are always advertising company's looking to bring over drivers.
Yow will find trucks out here look very dated ,they go in for the classic old
style.If you can find an old army style scammel you'll no what I mean about the g/boxes. Although saying that there are some starting to use
auto boxes.As far as driving trucks over here full time for a living I have'nt done this yet? But driving anywhere other than the UK is got to be
better!!

Peter.

Hi Dave_Hazel,
I can only say what we (my OH and I) have experienced, maybe this will be of some help to you and others!!!!
My OH and I are here in Alberta, Canada through the PNP, My OH is a long haul truck driver- The company who hired him conducted their interviews for prospective drivers and their families in the UK. We met the Hiring Company recruiter and the representitive of the Immigration company that the Hiring company use. The company required my OH to have a minimum of 2 years Class 1 driving experience in the UK and Europe.
I think the amount of driving experience required, differs from province to province and company to company., so you will need to check it out before hand. Canadian companies advertise in the UK through the national and local newspapers, trucking magazines like Truck and Driver, Trucking etc, so check them out. 8)
One piece of advice though is be very careful of some of the immigration companies, as they prey on peoples desire to come to Canada, which can have a very high cost, as some people here in Canada have already found out!
If you get a job offer through the PNP process, The immigration company who works for the hiring employer, should sort out your Work permits, LMO, flights, etc it shouldn't cost you anything, as all the expenses is covered by the hiring company! 8) The only thing you should pay for is your spouse and kids (if you have any) to come over. 8)
As for driving in Canada, it's like driving Miss Daisy here, totally different from wacky racers in the UK lol!!!!
Hopefully I've gave you a little more insight...................

Shazza 151

Hi shazza151

Thank you for your reply. Me and the wife are thinking of Alberta. Who does your OH work for if you dont mind me asking?

A few people have said to watch out for immigration companies. A lot have said the hiring company will pay for me but i will have to pay for the wife and son and dog.

Dave

[Edit - no need to quote the previous post in its entirety.]

Hi Dave,
If you come to Canada through the PNP, then the company should pay for your work permit and your flight. But you have to pay for any accompanying family members and pet.
My OH and I live in Lethbridge, OH works for H and R Transport, they are a large company with depots in most of the Canadian provinces. H and R have an immigration company, which they used and bought me and my OH here. But you are right to be wary of some immigration companies, a few people I have come across since i have been here in Canada have been charged horendous amounts of money, before they have even left the UK. Getting to Canada through the PNP should not cost you a penny, as for accompnying family members, you pay for their flights and get the work/temp residence/study permits at the Port of Entry eg Immigration at Calgary Airport. Hope this helps!

Have you got an e-mail address so i can contact you with any more info!
Shazza 151

Hi shazza151

I’ve been only in contact with VRV and Global and im e-mailing FICS who bison transport use. I have been on H & R’s web site and they are a company I would like to work for , as many UK drivers work for them and they haven’t said a bad word about them. In the UK im driving for a chilled / frozen food company so I hope this will help.

As I have only just passed my class 1 in May this year, H & R won’t 5 years UK experience according to VRV? But they will take me on as a city shut driver with my class 2, but this will not get me PR, as only long haul drivers get this.

Im going to see when I’ve done my 2 years, if they will take me on? If they say no I will try other companies that will take me on with 2 years UK experience.

My e-mail address is davewilby1@hotmail.co.uk

Dave

[quote="shazza151"][Edit - no need to quote the previous post in its entirety.]

Hi Shazza
My husband also wishes to live and truck drive in Canada, I found your posting to Dave_Hazel, very interesting, I just wondered on the H & R web site there is a application form, did your husband apply by filling this out? if you could give us anymore information, I would be very grateful, there is so much to read on the net, but you just don't know which way to go, but being able to talk to someone who has mastered it all is worth much more.
I hope you will be kind enough to help with some advice.
Thanks

Jettblack

could anyone tell me the web site for this company?I am looking to move to Canada,have been quoted £5500 to get a job out there,is this normal??????? I'm a class one driver with 14 years experience uk and continental,also used an eaton twin splitter

[quote="jay&bex"] I lived & worked in canada twice with 2 different companys, 1 being yanke but found them to take the p*** out of uk drivers by not giving you the miles to earn money. not a very good company to work for.that was in saskatoon,a one horse town. the other company was jeff bryan transport who stung me for $5000 wages that i never got. i am now trying to find a firm to pay for me to come back as i loved it in canada & loved to lifestyle. the first time i went over it cost me
£5000 thru wbc,i would advice anyone not to pay any immigration firm
any fees,its a rip off. if anyone has any info on firms in the pnp program looking for drivers now then please let me no

Dave,

wouldn't it be possible to go over as a city driver with your class 2, then go to a driving school for your class 1 training and etc?? Then see about whether H&R would be able to bump you up from city driver to long haul driver, Not sure if it's possible but is it something you took into consideration and asked them about??

Sorry if i sounded rude or a tad dumb for asking, but as i'm only 15 and looking at my options, i just want to be sure if it is a good possibility to do that . And with the new driver CPC law coming out this year for drivers,with the age being bumped down to 18. it's an added bonus for me, if it's possible for my theory to work then i have a good oppertunity in the future. But its better too be sure and ask questions then too ponder wondering whether it is possible or not!

cor eaton twin splitter gearbox ,the best box in the world in my opinnion , im olso looking to emergate out to the big white .Iv'e got about 12 years experiance , any advice would be greate