I was a truck driver in the Uk and home every night. I came to Canada in 2007 and they dont transfer your C+E licence, you have to pay to retake the test (although not as hard here). Most truck driving jobs require you be on the road for 2-3 weeks at a time home for 2 days and out again, I have young kids and dont want it although I did do the test. There are some day run jobs but are few and far between and the pay is not great (well in ontario at least!)
In canada you only get 2 weeks holiday a year as well!
I am not trying to put you off but think about it and do lots of research before you book a flight and think about a career change if you dont want to be away from home because the cost to get the AZ licence is not cheep and it is hard to find day run jobs.

Hello pickles family,

well, were in the process of going to strathmore alberta.
My hubby is a hgv driver and me hairdresser, hubby will be working for westcan and will be away 6 day and home for 3. Not what we wanted really as we have 2 kids 9/13.
Our friends have been out there 3yrs and have been through this already, even though he's still doing it. He worked for heyl/jd knoll and can be away anything upto 3wks at a time!!!
Dont think there is many day jobs for immigrants doing hgv as they give them to the canadians unless you've got your citizenship.
Were only looking to be doing this until we get out citizenship which i think can take anything from a year to 2 years to get then he will try for a day job. Anything for a better life away from this hell whole thats waiting to cave in!!!
We also have friend here in the uk who are doing this process with us and he will be working with my hubby at westcan as well.
We have spoken to people that live in bc and they all love it.
Hope this helps in anyway and good luck.
Mrs Ivory.

I think people tell you one thing and then tell their coworkers something else.
It is wonderful if they really think they are much better off than they were.

I see some trucks running up and down the interstate in the US who are from Canada and I think they are bringing produce from California up to Canada. I may be wrong on that because Canada has its own produce I would think. Anyhow I do see trucks from BC here in California and Nevada.
Good luck.

Remember the grass is greener on the other side.

I might ask why do you see so many Expats in Canada are returning to the UK?

Those people you mention that you talk to in BC that love it, are they from the UK?

What am I saying? I love it when I visit Victoria and I'm going there in 4 weeks for the first in 15 years. When I get there I don't want to leave.

Now is this a confusing post or what?

Cheers!

Hi,

Yes the people we have spoken to are from the uk and one couple have been there over 30 years.
People come back to england for all sorts of reasons, main one being home sick, missing family and friends because they cant fit in with canadian life.
Each to there own, can't please everybody.

My neighbour in the country was a truck driver. For a long time had a regular run from Barrie ON to SLC UT. Eventually he packed that in for a day run from Alliston ON to Chicago IL because the latter allowed him to be home every weekend. That proved a mixed blessing.

He said that in terms of hours worked, pay and sleep the long run was better. The short run meant lots of, unpaid, waiting for loading and unloading and the timing, always needing to deliver at the start of the workday, meant naps rather than whole nights' sleep. A three day run allowed him freedom to organize his time whereas short runs meant that every time he stopped someone watching the GPS would want to know why.

6000$ CDN for a test is b/s.Paid less than 600 for mine,took me 3 1/2 days start to finish.
Canada want longhaul truck drivers,we all want local runs and home everynight but have had to do the longhaul stuff first to gain residency,no pain no gain etc.
If you can do however long it takes on the highway to obtain your landed status it's well worth the effort,the time scale seems dependent on Province.There are lots of us out here reaping the rewards now,but we all had to sacrifice a bit of home time to get where we are now.Best of luck,check out the trucking section in working abroad for more of us moaning drivers,.

A lot of mis information on this thread, enough to put the most determined would be immigrant off
Oh and for the guy that was surprised Canada gets its produce from Cali & AZ its about 100 truck loads a day 365 a year thats all.
In short if you need to know about trucking in Canada/USA come to the trucking section of BE, where experieced truckers willl gladly help you out. If you need to know where to buy Marmite and get english bacon then stay here

Gremmie, I live in Yuma, AZ in the winter which, because it is an oasis in the middle of the desert, is the salad green capital of the world and I can tell you that it isn't 100 truckloads a day. No where like !
At peak times they say as many as 1,200, yes 1,200, reefer trucks a day leave the packing sheds on Gela Ridge Road for points all over the north american continent. I understand it's the same kind of traffic at El Centro, CA too. Having been caught up in the truck traffic I'd say that one rig a minute, 24/7, leaving there is about right.
They say that they grow about 160 different types of produce around the area. It is by far the biggest industry around there.

Well good for you living in Yuma...
I said 100 trucks a day from both AZ & CA coming to Canada through out the year, not just Yuma arround december/January at its peak season, of those 1200 trucks only about 3% come to Canada the rest is domestic and other exports. And its Gila Ridge Road. I run a trucking company that specializes in produce transport from AZ & CA.

When is the uk goverment going to see what is happening ,the good are going and it worries me with what is left .

So where do you live

I know nothing about truck driving but you're post did give me a giggle Mr Pickles

Thanks for all your replies friends-sorry i didn't get back sooner, we have just been camping up in Scotland for a couple of weeks and little pickles Junior caught the biggest fish i've ever seen.

Yeah i did hear i would have to retake my test-and i also know it ain't cheap, which made me wonder weather i would fit in better as a Welder or something in Canada.

I used to weld Pressure vessels in the 90's and i have my Lloyds Codings-just an option until i finally get citizenship then i think i'll run for Sheriff.

I like Trucking but i have never been one to Polish the dam thing and put my name on it-Jesus i'd rather be home with Mrs Pickles polishing her things if ya know what i mean.
Don't get me wrong-i ain't work shy, i can dig a hole faster than anyone, with my bare hands if i have too-i just like to be home at night with my family, play my Geetar, clean my rifles, teach the kids how to make lethal booby traps.

I'd like more honest views and opinions on HGV Canada-so keep em coming.

Thanks again

God Bless you all

REV.I.Pickles

Sounds like Louisiana could be the place for you. Any good on a banjo?

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/

Check on the link above. There is a Canadian section in there.

Got to say though if you want to make good cash here in Canada welding is the game to be in.