i am in the uk and done hgv 2 driving for 22 years i am going to do hgv 1 as i have been told i cannot do class 1 unless have experiece in uk first as companies all say they want 2 years experience sooo confusing is it worth spending out doing uk hgv 1 or wait???? can anyone help

I don't quite understand your question. If the companies in Canada say they want 2 years Class 1 experience before they would consider taking you on, then yes, you'll have to do it so that you meet their requirements. Is that what you are asking?

Sorry to break the bad news,but get the experience driving an artic in Europe/UK,then come over here.The companies want drivers who know what they're doing,and you really wouldn't be doing yourself any favours by coming out as a rookie,even with a job offer.

22 years Class C and never did C & E ? I did my C Class in the UK in Dec then we came over here a couple of months ago - doh money wasted..
I made enquiries about driving and was warned away from it for 3 reasons.
1)Big distances to cover so you may be away from home a lot.

2)The winters here can get a bit chilly, so the roads can get icy

3)Most importantly there is a reason why if a Canadian can get car insurance
for $1600 dollars (a grand UK ISH) they would think they have done very well.
The standard of driving over here ( At least in GTA) is unbelievable. By this I do not mean good.
I like the Canadians, in my 2 month experience here I have found them to be very patient, helpful and friendly but as soon as they get behind the wheel of a car they become possesed with a manic obsession to kill themselves and inflict as much chaos and death as is humanly possible.

I was told I could convert by bike license and ride over here ( rode a bike since I was 16) you would have to pay me to ride a bike over here, seriously!

i know of 2 people that have gone over and they just had a years experience and had no problems with jobs, just wondered why alberta request 2 years and new brunswick no worried??????

1. Its a big country for sure. As last in you are lowest in the pecking order and will get the crap routes Im afraid.

2. You dont say But In a truck the sheer weight of the thing maintains contact with the road. Its not really like ice road truckers. BUt there can be hairy moments.

3. The GTA is not representative of Canada as a whole. Most of canadas roads have pretty light traffic, boredom and fatigue are probably bigger dangers than the other drivers.

4. Cant swap a bike license, not in Ontario anyway. Snow and ice for 4 months anyway, followed by a month of grit everywhere, followed by a month of bug swarms, followed by 2 weeks of nice biking, then 3 months of 30° heat and humidity where anyone with a brain stays in an A/Cd car. Then a month of nice Fall biking, then back to winter again...

Plus you cant filter through stationary traffic so no benefit for commuting, plus insurance is pretty expensive.

I held a Class 1 HGV Licence for a number of years in the UK before moving to Canada. The licence is worth diddly squat over here (though your experience may hold some sway) and you will have to pass the test etc and obtain an A, Z etc licence. I reckoned it would cost me around $4000 to get lessons/pass tests etc and as I only wanted to work part time, decided not to bother. I have heard some companies will, based on past UK HGV Class 1 experience, put you through the test etc on the basis they will employ you afterwards...deducting the cost from your earnings....

If you don't already have a UK HGV, and you are set on moving to Canada don't bother going to the expense unless you need it to work until till you move, ...it's not recognised (at least in Ontario) over here.

Best of luck.

i know its a pain to pay out for hgv 1 here in uk and it mean nothing in canada, but all companies are asking for 2 years experience i have 22 years hgv 2 experience, and was told by an alberta driving school that i cannot change my uk licence for alberta unless i have lmo or permanant address in alberta,all confusing. so not sure wether to do hgv 1 here to get experience. does anyone know any companies in alberta that take on new drivers from uk.

Did you ask / look in the trucking specific forum?

http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=118

I was told I could do a brief course but it had to be done in 60 days, after reading your reply I am definatly not bothering!!

Hi commando1,
Have sent you a PM.

Hi, it's a bit of a catch22 and I appreciate the dilemma. As others have said, it is highly unlikely that you will secure a Class1A trucking job without any Class1 experience in the UK, although I appreciate you don't want to fork out for a licence that is not recognised in Canada.
What program are you looking at going out on? Believe it or not, there are plenty of Class2 (their equivalent) jobs around. It is a matter of putting together a good CV and phoning every transport company in your chosen area and explaining your situation. Its worth a try before thinking of doing Class1 in the UK first. Good luck, keep us posted.
Russ

hi russ thanks for your info, i did not think you could get lmo with a class 2 job thought it had to be class 1, but i will ring around and find out, will keep you posted are you in canada and what do you do and who do you work for?????
thanks mark