AdrianR

Folks
Does anyone know of Canadian trucking companies that will train from scratch - or pay for the new-hire's HGV training, on the basis he stays with that company for 'x' months?

It seems to be common in the USA (CR England, Schneider etc) but I can't find Canuck trucking companies doing the same.

I have Canadian PR, a 10 year B1/B2 visa for the USA, a Mexican passport and I'm fluent in Spanish...just lacking the commercial license.

Gremmie

Manitoba has a program up and running to get new blood into trucking

Are You Interested in Becoming a Professional Truck Driver?
Then you may be interested in the MPI Entry Level Professional Truck Driver Training Program! Eligible participants will receive 100% funding of their tuition to a participating Class 1 driver training school. For more information, please contact Danielle at the MTA office. You can reach Danielle by phone (204-632-6600 or 1-866-820-1317) or by email: [email protected]. Call TODAY for more information!

AdrianR

Thanks for the link. It is interesting, though not without several hoops that must be jumped through. These include, amongst other things:
1. Must be a resident of Manitoba
2. Must be pre-approved by Employment Manitoba
3. Must already be in employment with an approved trucking company and must sign a contract to stay with them for 2 years after completion of training.

Still, might be worth further investigation.

Anyone else know of companies - Maritimes preferably - that do their own 'in-house' training a la Schneider/CR England?

kb33

Why not just pay for you're own training then claim it back in taxes at the end of the year ?

Then you're not tied to any company and work where you like , Even short haul as you have PR .

AdrianR

'Cos the only deal I can find in NS that offers an internship (required to get around the '2 years experience required') is the Commercial Safety College - costs C$9600, which I don't have - and they cannot guarantee employment after graduation.

I guess I could borrow, but I'd rather (at this point) hock myself into working for a company for 'x' months on the basis they paid for training.

kb33

Its never a good idea to "lock" yourself into a company , Ask the thousands that came over on the Alberta PNP and worked as a temporary worker until they had PR . A lot went back home broke and destitute because they couldn't work with the draconian ways of the company i.e. Hanging around for days on end as a unpaid baby sitter whilst waiting for a load. Not to mention waiting all day for a load then be expected to run all night to make up for lost time , Working like this , the company as a " hold on you " and they know it and use it to their advantage.

Personally I would avoid this at all costs even go as far to say avoid the industry as well if you can .

AdrianR

Thanks for the advice - seems a lot of folk on various trucking-related fora say pretty much the same thing.

Although I would never expect to make a fortune, I am looking for something I can get into quickly, work at for 5 years or so and build a retirement fund...which wouldn't have to be that large, given I'm 49 and single.

cukks

sorry to interupt are you saying the TRUCKING industry is that bad over in canada.

kb33

Nope ..

But for someone without experience and a class one licence , being tied to one company will almost certainly end in tears .

Gremmie

May be get out of the Maritimes, the trucking industry over there is pretty dead.

scrubbedexpat133

alandoug

Try Bulk Carriers on PEI.
They even pay you while you train. I did mine there, you only pay for the tests