[karla03]

Right here goes.....................!

As many know, I am off to Canada in the next 3 weeks for a research trip. We are going to Saskatchewan and are hoping to settle there if my husband recieves a job offer from a trucking firm. The only problem that I have at the minute is the cost of living in Canada.

I was on this website for 3 hours last night reading thread after thread (many had me in fits of laughter) but I noticed the wages which are promised by the trucking companies don't add up to the fortnightly payments. One said that her husband was on $50 k a year and her husband fortnightly payments we're $1500 after tax. She said that it added upto $40 k - which is a big difference.

I know that the harder you work and longer you are away, the more you get paid. My husband currently works 6 days a week and works from 5 am till 5 pm or later - some might say that he is a workaholic, but he works hard for a decent wage. He is paid £32,500 per year ($73,550) and this is including at least 35 hours overtime per month. Some might say that this is great - but our quality of life is not very good, this is why we want to move to Canada.

My fear is that we are not going to be able to cope on his wage in Canada as I am not too sure on the cost of living in SK. We don't have much money to splash out now - so it's not like we are use to doing this and I always budget our shopping fund and I only buy clothes and shoes for my family if they need them.

If anyone could help, then I would be grateful. I have read alot about the cost of living in Calgary, Vancouver and Torronto and I was wondering if Saskatoon/Moose Jaw or Regina is the same.

Our main reason for moving to Canada is to have a better family life and a better quality of life. I know money is not suppose to be a main factor - but everyone has to be able to afford food and somewhere to live.

If you can help, I'd be grateful x x x x x

(I know this is posted somewhere else - this is thanks to my husband!!!!!!)

[DaveTheCat]

Originally Posted by karla03 Right here goes.....................! As many know, I am off to Canada in the next 3 weeks for a research trip. We are going to Saskatchewan and are hoping to settle there if my husband recieves a job offer from a trucking firm. The only problem that I have at the minute is the cost of living in Canada. I was on this website for 3 hours last night reading thread after thread (many had me in fits of laughter) but I noticed the wages which are promised by the trucking companies don't add up to the fortnightly payments. One said that her husband was on $50 k a year and her husband fortnightly payments we're $1500 after tax. She said that it added upto $40 k - which is a big difference. I know that the harder you work and longer you are away, the more you get paid. My husband currently works 6 days a week and works from 5 am till 5 pm or later - some might say that he is a workaholic, but he works hard for a decent wage. He is paid £32,500 per year ($73,550) and this is including at least 35 hours overtime per month. Some might say that this is great - but our quality of life is not very good, this is why we want to move to Canada. My fear is that we are not going to be able to cope on his wage in Canada as I am not too sure on the cost of living in SK. We don't have much money to splash out now - so it's not like we are use to doing this and I always budget our shopping fund and I only buy clothes and shoes for my family if they need them. If anyone could help, then I would be grateful. I have read alot about the cost of living in Calgary, Vancouver and Torronto and I was wondering if Saskatoon/Moose Jaw or Regina is the same. Our main reason for moving to Canada is to have a better family life and a better quality of life. I know money is not suppose to be a main factor - but everyone has to be able to afford food and somewhere to live. If you can help, I'd be grateful x x x x x (I know this is posted somewhere else - this is thanks to my husband!!!!!!)

Hi there,

This http://www.sreda.com/docs/communicat...%20Revised.pdf might give you an idea about the costs associated with life in Saskatoon.

[DaveTheCat]

Originally Posted by DaveTheCat Hi there, This http://www.sreda.com/docs/communicat...%20Revised.pdf might give you an idea about the costs associated with life in Saskatoon.

Oh, and people living in other provinces might want to read this too, just to confirm/deny the claims therein.

[karla03]

Originally Posted by DaveTheCat Hi there, This http://www.sreda.com/docs/communicat...%20Revised.pdf might give you an idea about the costs associated with life in Saskatoon.

Thank you very much for the info.

[MB-Realtor]

One point to remember with truckers pay is that its based on the miles driven, and not a fixed wage, and there's no overtime. So if you don't get the miles, you don't get the pay.

[karla03]

Originally Posted by MB-Realtor One point to remember with truckers pay is that its based on the miles driven, and not a fixed wage, and there's no overtime. So if you don't get the miles, you don't get the pay.

Thats fair enough. My husband will be away from 10 -15 days at a time and we know that he will not get paid if he is not driving - but do some companies pay for loading/unloading? Waiting at the boarder, if there is a problem? etc etc?

[karla03]

Originally Posted by karla03 Thats fair enough. My husband will be away from 10 -15 days at a time and we know that he will not get paid if he is not driving - but do some companies pay for loading/unloading? Waiting at the boarder, if there is a problem? etc etc?

I guess we will have to wait and see what they are offering when we go for a visit and my husband has his interviews

[thundercat600]

Karla
I've been looking at a few truck company websites to get some ideas as OH is a truck-driver and will be looking for work within the next year.

many of the sites list what they pay for (seem to be much more open than here, but then I've never looked at truck-driving jobs before!)
They tend to have a "Drivers" page which lists skills requirements, comp and bens and an application button.

take a look at this site (if you haven't already), and look at the company websites

http://www.canadiantruckers.com/map2.html

hope this helps

[karla03]

Originally Posted by thundercat600 Karla I've been looking at a few truck company websites to get some ideas as OH is a truck-driver and will be looking for work within the next year. many of the sites list what they pay for (seem to be much more open than here, but then I've never looked at truck-driving jobs before!) They tend to have a "Drivers" page which lists skills requirements, comp and bens and an application button. take a look at this site (if you haven't already), and look at the company websites http://www.canadiantruckers.com/map2.html hope this helps

Cheers x x x

[Yoong]

Originally Posted by karla03 Right here goes.....................! As many know, I am off to Canada in the next 3 weeks for a research trip. We are going to Saskatchewan and are hoping to settle there if my husband recieves a job offer from a trucking firm. The only problem that I have at the minute is the cost of living in Canada. I was on this website for 3 hours last night reading thread after thread (many had me in fits of laughter) but I noticed the wages which are promised by the trucking companies don't add up to the fortnightly payments. One said that her husband was on $50 k a year and her husband fortnightly payments we're $1500 after tax. She said that it added upto $40 k - which is a big difference. I know that the harder you work and longer you are away, the more you get paid. My husband currently works 6 days a week and works from 5 am till 5 pm or later - some might say that he is a workaholic, but he works hard for a decent wage. He is paid £32,500 per year ($73,550) and this is including at least 35 hours overtime per month. Some might say that this is great - but our quality of life is not very good, this is why we want to move to Canada. My fear is that we are not going to be able to cope on his wage in Canada as I am not too sure on the cost of living in SK. We don't have much money to splash out now - so it's not like we are use to doing this and I always budget our shopping fund and I only buy clothes and shoes for my family if they need them. If anyone could help, then I would be grateful. I have read alot about the cost of living in Calgary, Vancouver and Torronto and I was wondering if Saskatoon/Moose Jaw or Regina is the same. Our main reason for moving to Canada is to have a better family life and a better quality of life. I know money is not suppose to be a main factor - but everyone has to be able to afford food and somewhere to live. If you can help, I'd be grateful x x x x x (I know this is posted somewhere else - this is thanks to my husband!!!!!!)

Hi Karla,
I think the wages do depend on what he is hauling , the experience
and qualification ie oil tickets . Here are the links from the job bank.

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/ShowJob_en....t&Stud ent=No
http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/JobResult_e...t=No&PageNum=1
http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/JobResult_e...ent&Student=No
http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/JobResult_e...ent&Student=No
Hope that helps
Yoong

[karla03]

Originally Posted by Yoong Hi Karla, I think the wages do depend on what he is hauling , the experience and qualification ie oil tickets . Here are the links from the job bank. http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/ShowJob_en....t&Stud ent=No http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/JobResult_e...t=No&PageNum=1 http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/JobResult_e...ent&Student=No http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/JobResult_e...ent&Student=No Hope that helps Yoong

Thanks Yoong x x x x x

[denisedalgetty]

Hi Karla

We moved to Manitoba last August, my husband is a truck driver and he works flat out for 10 days at a time has 2 days off and he's back out again. It is physically impossible for him to cover any more miles than he already does, and he takes home around $1500 per fortnight.

Unfortunately, the wages dont reflect the cost of living and we are living from pay cheque to pay cheque. In fact we are struggling so much financially that we are seriously considering returning to the UK. I don't even have spare cash to buy my children new socks let alone anything else. We literally pay the bills buy the food and the money has gone.

We came here with $23000 and shipped over our personal belongings in a 20' container. The only things we need to replace when we arrived was electrical goods and a car. Most people I have met from the UK seem to be dipping into their savings because the wages just aren't covering their living expenses.

If we return to the UK we have nothing, if we stay in Canada we will end up destitute.

I am sorry for sounding negative but unless you have lots of money to bring out here with you as a back up then I would seriously think twice about coming at all.

[denmac37]

Originally Posted by denisedalgetty Hi Karla We moved to Manitoba last August, my husband is a truck driver and he works flat out for 10 days at a time has 2 days off and he's back out again. It is physically impossible for him to cover any more miles than he already does, and he takes home around $1500 per fortnight. Unfortunately, the wages dont reflect the cost of living and we are living from pay cheque to pay cheque. In fact we are struggling so much financially that we are seriously considering returning to the UK. I don't even have spare cash to buy my children new socks let alone anything else. We literally pay the bills buy the food and the money has gone. We came here with $23000 and shipped over our personal belongings in a 20' container. The only things we need to replace when we arrived was electrical goods and a car. Most people I have met from the UK seem to be dipping into their savings because the wages just aren't covering their living expenses. If we return to the UK we have nothing, if we stay in Canada we will end up destitute. I am sorry for sounding negative but unless you have lots of money to bring out here with you as a back up then I would seriously think twice about coming at all.

Hi Denise and Karla
The wife cousins live in winnipeg they both work for Bison and I am sure they pick up more than $1500 per fortnight get hubby to look at them. I believe they are a good company to work for .I can always give you there emails if you want to know more from the horses mouth so to speak.
Den

[Scotty1972]

Originally Posted by denisedalgetty Hi Karla We moved to Manitoba last August, my husband is a truck driver and he works flat out for 10 days at a time has 2 days off and he's back out again. It is physically impossible for him to cover any more miles than he already does, and he takes home around $1500 per fortnight. Unfortunately, the wages dont reflect the cost of living and we are living from pay cheque to pay cheque. In fact we are struggling so much financially that we are seriously considering returning to the UK. I don't even have spare cash to buy my children new socks let alone anything else. We literally pay the bills buy the food and the money has gone. We came here with $23000 and shipped over our personal belongings in a 20' container. The only things we need to replace when we arrived was electrical goods and a car. Most people I have met from the UK seem to be dipping into their savings because the wages just aren't covering their living expenses. If we return to the UK we have nothing, if we stay in Canada we will end up destitute. I am sorry for sounding negative but unless you have lots of money to bring out here with you as a back up then I would seriously think twice about coming at all.

Maybe if your driving long haul it can be tough, I ve heard some interesting stories. But if you do city work for companies like bridgebrand or become an owner operator you can earn some good money

rgds scotty

[Big Truck]

Originally Posted by denisedalgetty Hi Karla We moved to Manitoba last August, my husband is a truck driver and he works flat out for 10 days at a time has 2 days off and he's back out again. It is physically impossible for him to cover any more miles than he already does, and he takes home around $1500 per fortnight. Unfortunately, the wages dont reflect the cost of living and we are living from pay cheque to pay cheque. In fact we are struggling so much financially that we are seriously considering returning to the UK. I don't even have spare cash to buy my children new socks let alone anything else. We literally pay the bills buy the food and the money has gone. We came here with $23000 and shipped over our personal belongings in a 20' container. The only things we need to replace when we arrived was electrical goods and a car. Most people I have met from the UK seem to be dipping into their savings because the wages just aren't covering their living expenses. If we return to the UK we have nothing, if we stay in Canada we will end up destitute. I am sorry for sounding negative but unless you have lots of money to bring out here with you as a back up then I would seriously think twice about coming at all.

Which trucking company in Manitoba is your OH working for?
Westcan Bulk Transport advise UK families to bring at least £30 grand in savings with them to "tide" them over for the first year until they get establised etc!!!!!!
There seems to be something badly wrong that your OH is only earning $700/week!!!!!!
Simple math is $700X 35cents/mile = 2000 miles/week,
so for driving 7 days your husband is only getting around 285 miles/day?!!!!!!!