HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

Allow me to introduce myself, my names Reverend Pickles.
Before we get started i'd like you all to keep your guns where i can see them and we will get along just fine...

Been a HGV Driver in the UK for over 12 years now, ran over a dog once but it wasn't my fault, he wasn't looking where i was going...

Part from that ive got a clean licence, i can drive almost anything, Mrs Pickles says i drive her crazy most of the time which is why i'm hear i guess, hope i came to the right place.

I grew up in the Steel City Sheffield, once the back bone of British Steel, now a thriving un-flushed toilet full of nasty things that i don't even wanna talk about.

Mrs Pickles is a Graphic Designer by trade, she works on Apple macs and has a great future anywhere in the world, she ain't like me, she's like an angel, shes real smart too...

Little Miss Pickles is only two, shes a great dancer and shes better than me at Hide and seek.
Little pickles junior is just like me, 4 years old and he can shoot a fly out the sky with a pea shooter, he's as sharp as a razor too.


We have this idea in our heads that somewhere out there we might find Quality of life, we certainly don't have it hear in England.
Were both hard working people but as the years go by we seem to be taking more steps back, when we should be going forward.

Personally i think England is Finished, and it's not coming back.

I like shooting, Fishing, Poker and Whiskey, play a mean guitar too, but there just my hobbies, my priority are my family they come first.

I want good schools for my Children, not too bothered about a huge house, just something that's in a nice area that i can plant a tree and call home.

Mrs Pickles wants to work Part time (in between pre-school times) she loves her Job and intends to get a full time job again when the kids are at school full time (that's only 18 months away now) then she intends to set back up in Packaging artwork or design.

As for me, i'm a HGV driver but unlike most i want to be home every night, i don't want to sleep in the dam thing, i want to work hard, don't mind long hours, but at night i want to be home with my family.
Some guys like to spend all week away, well not for me, i like to come home, drive the kids crazy and go hunting on the odd weekend (but i don't mind working weekends now and again)

We sold our house two years ago, used quite a bit of our savings just raising the children, it's been hard with one wage but we manage.

We have £26,000 cash that we don't touch for a deposit on a home and 10 ounces of Gold Bullion, and that's about it.

We love the look of British Columbia, the climate looks roughly the same as England, but the winters look much colder, we don't mind that, we love snow and like building fires.


Reason i am hear is i'd like a few questions answering, my family are really liking the idea of moving far away from hear but is a Job like mine in demand in Canada?

If it is what kind of work am i likely to be realistically offered?

Does HGV driving in Canada mean you leave your home on Monday and not see your family until Christmas-because if that's the case, that's not quality of life for me.

What are the Schools like in BC, and what are the 'BEST' schools in BC

any advice would be good really, guess the best advice i can give my self right now is to come and see Canada for my self before i jump into anything, but before i do i'd like to hear what you guys have to say.

Thanks for listening anyhow.

You Stay Lucky

REV.I.Pickles

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

Welcome to the BE Forum.

Start by going here its everything you need about the moving over part first. Make sure you qualify http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238703

Also everything you need to know about Truck driver http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Truck_Driving_in_Canada

Any questions people would be happy to answer as im no expert on Truck driving :)

Good Luck

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

when you read the "truck driving in Canada requirements" and u read the part that says.....Two to three years' experience as a truck driver...that does not mean anywhere in the world......that means here in Canada....having said that....there are company's that will give u a chance, but this country is very seniority based, new employees get the worst runs, some friends of ours came over 3 years ago, he drove a truck in the UK for a living, he had to spend $6,000 to take a test and get a Cdn truck driving license....once he did that, he spent 6 months hitting a brick wall, he couldn't find one company that would give him a chance as he hadn't got 2 years driving experience in Canada, then one day a company called Moe's transport gave him a chance.....he worked hard but his health and family did suffer a little....he had to drive nights, and drove very long hours to earn anything decent, we kept telling him to stick it out because once he had the experience he could change. I am assuming that this info goes for all provinces, I am in Ont, near Windsor where we have amazing summers, and chilly winters, not too much snow and real estate is very cheap here!!

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

Good advice there, I agree as with most things when your new its hard and you get the blunt end of the stick. Yes you may have to work away or work really long hours to get your 2 years experience but just think after those 2 years you have a better chance of getting what you want so don't be put off use it as a goal line :)

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

Gold eh? Smart move.
Telling everyone how much you've got? Not so smart.

Canada is a big country. I have no idea about trucking here - but wouldn't they have to be away at night simply due to the vast distances involved?

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

not always, there are nice short runs too!!

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

You might want to look at the semi skilled pilot projects for PNP too - although BC's ends this august.

http://www.welcomebc.ca/wbc/immigrat...level/who.page

http://www.albertacanada.com/immigra...-criteria.aspx

Of course I realise you will still have to get here and get a work permit first, but truck driving being on the shortage lists may make it easier. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplace...lowskill.shtml

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/cgi-b...emp5512&ln=eng

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplace...emp5415e.shtml

Good luck!

:)

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

Ever thought of living somewhere else in England?..the grass isnt always greener in another country..and for me England isnt finished and will come back.

im even tempted to come back home to help make sure it does:thumbup:

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

No because this place is a crap hole and moving from one part of the England to another doesn't help because your still in England. I tried that and didn't work so off to Canada for me as its far away from here :)

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

good for u......we have a new bridge and new road construction starting soon here, so soon there will be loads of jobs in all sorts of fields!!!

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

You're right. Chav's and peado's on every street corner; teenagers in hoodies looking scary; crime soaring - you just aren't safe there anymore; too many immigrants coming in droves. It all adds up to the UK being crap. I'm glad I don't live there anymore - what a dump.

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

Well what a Negative Nancy you are :thumbdown:

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

:rofl::rofl:

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

Again, I can't imagine why anyone would want to leave Cambridge to live in Alberta. If you think the UK is a crap hole.....

Re: HGV DRIVER IN UK LOOKING AT CANADA
 

i've done long distance 'over the road driving' in the US and I'm glad I'm away from it. You have family values and you need to change to following the big buck that seems to be the culture in N. America. When you have been out of work with no money coming in you start to think that money is the only thing.
N. America is not England and I'm thinking that were you are now you have a safety net.
I came over and walked the streets looking for work and I was very discouraged. I should have gone back right away.
A friend of mine who retired from the RAF (no pension, how could that happen?) told me his brother drove long distance with a truck and worked for Walmart and made a very good living. He told me how much but I wouldn't tell you because it may cloud your thinking.
You put a value on your family, you can be admired for that, so stay in England so you have better control of your life.
I know another fellow who got his 'commercial' license and went to work for a nationally know trucking company and the only way he could get home was by quitting the job.
It is hard for me to list why you shouldn't make this move but you are like many of us and think you know better go ahead and do it if that's what you want.