peskypete

Well, i am 19 years old and i live in the UK (unfortunatly...)
I want to become a trucker, and move over to canada but i was wondering what i should do to achieve this.
My current plan is...

Finish college (so i have something to fall back on)
Get my UK driving licence for manual car
Get a HGV/LGV licence
Work for 2 or 3 years in the UK (is this a MUST? I'd rather go straight to Canada and earn less)
Get a company to employ me


I have tried to list that as realistically as i can, i am not a dreamer, but this is an ambition, please just let me know what steps i must take.
Thanks

eire23

Another option for you if you want to get a taste of it and see if its for you is go do a season in America with a custom cutter. They are teams that start in the south of the country and head north cutting wheat as it matures.
The season runs from April to december, the visa you get is a H2A they organise that for you and you do an interview in the us embassy.
I have just returned from there, I landed over got my cdl got handed the keys to a Peterbilt 379 and we headed down to the mexican border in may and ended up at the canadian border in September and headed south to cut corn.
We spent the time hauling grain and moving the combinesand tractor and grain carts between jobs.
I got to spend a month after doing "over the road trucking" as they call it hauling bulk produce around all the southern US states.
If ya want more info pm me

peskypete

Hi, can not pm as i dont have 3 posts lol, this sounds amazing! Would i still need to pass the HGV or LVG here in england? I imagaine i would have to, but this sounds like a great way to start. if you could pm me all possible info i would be very gratefull. Thankyou.

eire23

No most of them no experience would be necessary...just a will to learn to do things their way and a bit of common sense.
Some of the companys you would probably have to spend a bit of time on a tractor/combine as well.
Its tough work you might not get a day off for a month then if the weather turned bad you might be off for 2 weeks.
Just search on the internet for "us custom cutters" theres a lot of companys,
Most of them hire now for next season.
Also your cdl would probably transfer into Canada....its a bit to cold for my liking up there
Heres a few pictures for you

peskypete

That really looks amazing, thankyou.

DAVIE_MAC

http://www.safetycollege.ca/

Have a look at the above link where they provide training then a period of time with a trucking firm for you to gain experience. Hopefully when the period of time with th etrucking company is over they might offer you a job.

No idea as to costs and visa (poss BUNAC) / work permit requirements to train there but have a look there may be a way to break into the industry that way then you wont need to bother with a UK C+E

MacLover

I'm thinking about doing the same as the OP sans University (it rides on my English and well I highly doubt I'll get it).

I have a couple of questions:
Is the 2-3 years experience in UK really required?
If no can you go over and learn in Canada (or US) and try and get work?

If it is required should I go for C+E Artic?

Cheers in advance for any help

MacLover

Decided I'd get a UK licence and try and get experience trucking and then do the Seasonal work in southern USA

How would one go about getting a CDL if your not a perm. resident? and what happens to the licence once season is over?

Big Truck

Funny members on here used to lecture me about Custom Cutters only running piles of junk for trucks!!!!!!!!!

Who is that in the photos, Demaray harvesting from Arizona?

Gremmie

NO BT we said you talk a load of crap





Oh PS. those trucks are a load of old junk in the photos