Help for a trucker
 

Hi, I am new on here and I can see there is a huge amount of info at hand which I am hoping to start getting through. I have always thought of making the move to Canada so in September I visited Calgary and drove to Vancouver.(holiday) Loved it!!

So is there anyone here who can give me some advice..? I am a fuel tanker driver and have contacted Westcan a few times but haven't applied as yet. Please if you can offer any info/help what so ever I will appreciate you reaching out. I am particularly interested in being around the Rockies area.. So calgary, Edmonton or golden.

Thanks.

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Has Westcan been in contact with you recently?The reason I ask is a driver on these forums had his LMIA application cancelled by Westcan due to the new changes in the TWP program.So Im assuming they have changed their policy or quota of foreign drivers.

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Thanks for your reply. They just said apply as normal...but I know what you mean. Is it true a company must not have any more than 30% foreign work force?

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Yes and I believe down to 20% the following year.
By the look of it a few companies have given up with TFW's because of the new LMIA regulations.
Westcan don't have the best reputation for taking care of their foreign workers either.
Google them or go on the Truckers part of this forum and do a search.

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Hello and welcome to BE!

I am going to move your post to the trucking part of the forum as you are more likely to receive the information you are looking for.

Do come back to the main Canada forums after though!

:)

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Dont wouldnt let the new changes put you off as it wasnt the trucking companies that were found abusing the program.I dont have a crystal ball but I think these new changes are not going to last long as I cant see how its going to help the driver shortage.Have you looked at H&R ,they recruit drivers from UK every year and actually do interviews in UK .They are not fuel but chilled and frozen food and are in Lethbridge AB.When you came to Calgary did you go and see Westcan?The only other advice I can give you is search for companies with LMIAs in AB but if no joy look at SK and MB .

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Wow thanks very much everyone. I actually applied to h and r 5 years ago and got excepted, but I got some really rotten feedback about them and my personal situation changed at the time also.
I heard drivers where missing out on pay due to they way there payroll worked... Apparently they had deposit boxes dotted around North America for you to put your time sheets in etc... How is there reputation nowadays? I saw a few on the road and the equipment looks really clean? The boss was great with me at the interview and I phoned him to say I couldn't come and he was a gent...Are they a good place to start and seek cotizenship with? Do they support?

I didn't go to west can but did see many of there trucks, two actually at the airport when we landed delivering fuel, and one at an esso garage.

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Maybe the deposit boxes they were talking about were Fed Ex ,I sometimes have to do that although only Canada for my company.Im in contact with a driver who came over from Scotland 2 months ago and started working with H&R,after a few hiccups with them he is starting to enjoy it.You have to pay for the driver training,license,accomadation(Sandman Hotel Lethbridge) etc.Westcan have a bad reputation for messing drivers around and H&R arent angels either,its the nature of the beast,you have to think why are these companies employing foreign drivers .Most foreign drivers work with them for a couple of years,get their PR then leave ,they call it a stepping stone.

Re: Help for a trucker
 

They must be fed ex or something, it makes sense I guess especially when your international. I hope it works out ok for your friend. Does he get plenty of work? I read a few of the posts explaining about the difference between the uk and canada, I believe that if you are prepared to work they will work you.... The H +R man said to me that you should get into the head of your planner and he will work you :)

Re: Help for a trucker
 

I spoke to a H&R driver last week who's been with them 7 years, he told me they aren't getting any LIMA's due to them having more than 30% of TWF! And Westcan have had no new TFW's this year!!

Re: Help for a trucker
 

I should of pointed out I meant Westcan Calgary!!

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Ok thanks :(

Re: Help for a trucker
 

It will probably be next year when they get their next quota of LMIAs then.I suggest to Jrich to look at the other provinces that are hiring not just AB and not just fuel.

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Does anyone know anything about the oil fields? Rj Hoffman?

Re: Help for a trucker
 

I have never worked in the oilfields so I only have 2nd hand info.You are paid by the hour as its not long haul,work long hours driving hydrovac or pressure trucks.You visit 1 to 15 different sites each day,do your thing then home each nite .Its good pay but on the downside the accommodation is expensive.There are companies who provide accommodation in camps.RJ Hoffman,never heard of them but there are dozens of small companies like them providing oilfield services,they are the 1st I have heard of doing LMIAs(they say LMO on website)because I was under the impression the LMIAs was only for longhaul but having said that it doesnt surprise me.LLoydminster is a small town near Edmonton,I passed thru there a few weeks ago,its picking up lots of oilfield work.

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Again Google or search on here for Hoffmans.
Never worked for them but read some horror stories on here about them.

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Thanks Neilcumming, great info. I was shocked when I saw the LMO thing as like you I thought it was long haul only that could qualify. When you say "camps" would that be because of the remoteness of the oil fields and the likely hood of getting "home-home" could be very unlikely without a seriously long commute?

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Some of these camps are remote .What happens they work so many days on and have x amount of days off,something like 14 days on and 7 days off where people go home for a few days and return but it sounds like JR Hoffman isnt a camp job,you would have to rent or buy in LLoydminster.As I said I have never heard of them,Im based in MB,maybe someone else on here can give you better info.If your really interested give them a call,with your tanker experience I think you have good chance of being hired,all depends on there LMIA situation though.I wouldnt email them ,they probably wont reply.

Re: Help for a trucker (westcan)
 

Thanks so far everyone. Has anyone got any good feedback from westcan bulk?

Re: Help for a trucker (westcan)
 

Westcan is like any other company that sets on TFW, you've just got to keep you head down and do your time!

Re: Help for a trucker (westcan)
 

If you go on the main site here onto Immigration & Citizenship, go to page 3, about half way down there is a thread "Please help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA."
Have a read of that, that's Westcan.
Are you coming here alone or are you bringing family ?
If alone, I would say take what you can get, what have you got to lose but if you have family, I would be waiting to see what happens with these LMIA's and workforce percentages etc.
IMHO I think the government is not going to backtrack on any of this, be it a Tim Horton's worker or a truck driver.
All of these companies are going to have to up the wages to attract Canadians or downsize their companies.

Re: Help for a trucker (westcan)
 

Wow... Gotcha.

Bad times :( maybe sit back and see what happens I think. It's only me and the girlfriend but even so... I love the idea and that could potentially ruin everything.

Re: Help for a trucker
 

Hoffmans have 2 bases one in lloydminster and the other just over the border in sask if you search for them on the forum there is info regarding them some of it is good some not so good as neil says.
I use to work with a bloke who used to work there and he said basical if the wheel isnt turning your not earning but its a place to get your foot in through the door and a stepping stone to canada.
I work the oil patch and its good money and really nasty weather in winter can go down as far as -50 in alberta with a nasty windchill as well. Another problem is the price of oil at the moment if it keeps dropping down a lot of oilfield company's will be looking at laying people off not taking them on.
Good Luck with what you decide to do tho.