daisyd

Hi there,
My hubby is a HGV1 driver and has over 20 yrs experience, and we are looking into the possibility of moving to Canada.
Just wondered if anyone knows of any companies recruiting drivers from UK at the moment.
Would love to hear from any truckers who have made the move too!

Hope someone can help!

Many Thanks
Liz

andy_sheila

Which part of Canada are you looking to move to?

daisyd

Hiya,
We are looking ar Alberta area really as we have relatives near there, but would look further afield, and would go where the work was!

Liz

finallygotout

There is a thread in the archive somewhere, from someone who's husband had to take the test all over again here, cos it's not called HGV here, it's more like AZ/DZ or something like that.

Hopefully this person will come along and tell you all about it. Am sure you are prepared for the amount of time it will take for the whole process of emigrating?

andy_sheila

I think (but not sure) that AZ/DZ is for the USA, here in Nova Scotia it is a class 1for a tractor/trailer combo.
Class 5 is for a car and anything rigid up to 14,000t,
Class 3 is rigids over 14,000t,

There are plenty of trucking jobs all over canada but i think Vancouver is the hot-spot.

HTH

Atlantic Xpat

There certainly is a shortage of long haul truck drivers in the Atlantic/Maritime side of Canada, and judging from ads in the local paper here in NL for Alberta I'd say it is true there too. Talking to the MD of one of the trucking companies we use (I ship seafood around the world) he was telling me of the difficulties in recruiting and retaining good drivers. He actually had a bunch of Dutch guys working for him at one stage. This company was based in NB but covered the Eastern part of Canada and US.

I'd say if you are willing, had a good driving record and maybe additional experience e.g. reefer, hazchem etc and were prepared to invest some of your own time and money in getting re-trained you would have no problem in finding a job. In fact I would go asfar as speculating that you might well get a working visa to come be a trucker in fairly short order.

The downsides are pretty much the same as in UK - lots of time away from home and of course its a bigger place so that might be more of a problem.

Cheers,
AX

daisyd

Thanks for all your replies, hubby has sent a few e mails and we will await to see if it can happen for us.

Liz

Cdnshaz

My ex was a trucker in Ontario...you will need an AZ license for big rigs, DZ is more for big dump trucks..
Medicals need to be done every 3 years to keep your license
Jobs pay very well, but as you are used to your hubby being a trucker, him being gone for a week or 2 at a time won't be a problem for you..

Just look in any local paper and you will find someone wanting a driver...just be careful as many of them only want self employed drivers....

The Welshman

Hi

This company was at the Emigrate Show in Sandown at the begin of the month.

www.westcanbulktransport.com

They are looking for drivers in Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan.
Looking for two years experance. (I have not got that so i'll see when i get there.)
Hope this is of some help, there is also this website
www.uktruckerstocanada.com

TheWelshman A pint of Brains SA, works well

mandyrawlinson

www.westcanbulktransport.com
they had jobs about 1 month ago, looks likea decent company.

also
willis and brazelot, dont know the web address but a search engine will find it, i did.

good luck

Voyager970

Hi there

Just sent off the evaluation form for

http://willisbrazolot.com/home.php

to see if they can help me obtain a work permit

They only deal with HGV drivers, Welders and car mechanics

I am looking into the possibility of maybe getting a work permit through them

Will wait and see what the costs are

Eddie

beeginger

we are using willis and brazolot and its costing 4 of us #5,500 quid from beginning to end, starting as a temp working visa ,as hgv drivers arent skilled, then for that money they look after you till you are a pr 3 yrs down the line. we know people who have already used them

Voyager970

Are you going through the full immigration process with them, if so that is why it is costing you this amount.
I have already submitted my application for PR and have received my file number.

Beeginger how did your friends rate them and how have you found them !!!

Wonder how much I will be charged just for employment assistance !!!!!!

Eddie

beeginger

they came over from canada to meet us and explain how it all works. there was absolutely no pressure and all of our friends have had the same experience.
they have told us all of the forms and medicals, drug tests, truck retests, police checks, etc we need and HOW and WHERE to do them. they have now set us up interviews for our fact finding trip next month both in calgary (where we want to go) and winnipegg employers. we should come back with 3-5 job offers and from the time we accept one to being in canada on a temp work permit should be 3 months