Gidders

Hello and thanks for reading this... i hope you can help and advise me.....

Background

single guy, early 30's with no ties or family. Looking into doing interviews next year (as getting money together to support myself and get my licence over in canada). I have read a lot of posts on here, and i know i have to keep my head down and take the rubbish work until i prove myself (like within the uk and anywhere else for that matter). im not running away from anything, nor have anything to prove, i just fancy a change, and as a friend has just moved to the usa, its now or never for me to try something new i guess.

Why Canada?

ive looked at aussie and usa, and feel Canada offers me the best option for way of life and adventure.

Experience

5 yrs uk HGV class 1, general haulage, walking floors

What i am looking for...

A company to help me sort out most of the paperwork, and get me driving... not worried about where i am based from as i will come with a suitcase and myself in hand. Just looking to keep my head down, work hard, and see where it takes me and work out best for me to settle down after this period

What i would like to know...

on avg how much money would be needed to support myself and fund licence in canada before i pass the tests etc?
is there any sites where i can start research on the theory and get some clues on the air brake tests?
a list of companies to get in contact with? and that would help me get everything sorted in coming over from uk?
what on avg would i need to survive with in a truck in canada? i.e cooking, inverters etc.
i know i would be out for weeks on end, but is there areas to wash clothes etc?
i know it will be tough, but can a single guy make enough to live on in the first few years before i get a PR?
bank accounts, do i keep the uk one, or is it easy to open up one in Canada?


wow that seems a lot of questions... sorry... im just trying to get a better picture of things in my mind... if you can help in any of these i would be very grateful.

have a good day one and all

Gidders

Chicken lights and chrome

I can only tell you how it would work in Manitoba, the other provinces have slightly different ways of doing things in regard to immigration.

First you'll need to find a company that has an LMO. This is basically a letter that allows them to fill a position with a temporary foreign worker. You get the LMO and a job offer to present to Immigration when you land in Canada and they give you a work permit.

The posession of a work permit entitles you to healthcare, a social insurance number and the ability to swap your car licence for a Canadian licence, your HGV is not recognised, so you get a learner's permit.

You have to wait two weeks from getting your permit and taking a driving test, so you'll need accomodation for that time. You can get a flat share or rent your own, obviously the cost depends on what you want and where you decide to live, but as an example, a flat share will cost you approx $400 per month, a decent flat can stretch to $1000 per month. Most people require the first and last month's rent up front.

A local (to me) driving school charges $75 per hour and the test is $150, you have to do a written theory and air brake test prior to starting the driving and practical tests and they're $10 each (or they were) a couple of people I know have recently been through their tests and as long as you're able to drive, you should get away with spending $2500 on this.

Once you pass your test you can start your job, some companies have orientation that lasts a day, some last a week, some pay you, some don't. So you could be looking at a month without earning any money, you'll still be spending it though!

A car is a must, walking is not really possible, except in the town/city itself, you can pick up an old banger for $2000.

To do all this you're going to need about 5 grand Sterling, more would help though, better to have too much, than not enough.

Once you get on the road you can live quite cheaply, $200 a week will cover it as long as you're not extravegant. You'll need a fridge ($150) and a microwave ($50) and an inverter ($150-250) and a few tuperware dishes.

If you get a decent job, you'll bring home $3500-4000 a month without killing yourself.

Don't waste money on immigration specialists, the paperwork is a piece of piss, so you can easily do it yourself.

Gidders

thanks mate...

im just started to fill out a apllication form for a well known company, and they want a police clearence? how do i go about this?

many thanks

PzFus

Go to the Association of Chief Police Officers website, their system is efficient and not too expensive. Providing you're just dealing with UK their service will be all you need.

Here is the link, hope this helps:

http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

Gidders

many thanks, will do now

lugs

Does the acro cover Scotland as well. Does a disclosure do the same thing or does it have to be the one in the link above. This is mainly a question to the scots that have Emigrated in the last few years.

fergie171

the ACPO form covers all of the uk, im from glasgow

alandoug

Re all tests & driving lessons. My Mrs passed all tests 2nd time. Total cost was 2296 dollars. We now run super single.
She never had a truck licence in UK, did it all over here. An experienced driver who does it all first time ? 1500-1800 dollars approx.

mickfly

Alan, did your lass pass in an automatic shifter?

It also seems strange that H&R make a big deal that drivers HAVE TO have a few years experience, preferably on the continent or they won't take them on, but they will let a foreign novice drive their trucks, albeit in your case with an experienced driver beside them. I must admit, it's a great way for you two to do it (and a good option for others), but it just seems strange.

alandoug

Hi Mick,
She passed in a manual, her instructor said her shifting was good. She is officially a trainee only, I am supposedly her mentor. Can you imagine telling Cath how to do her job? It has caused the odd difference of opinion I can tell you! She is a feisty lass anyway.....

mickfly

Wouldn't work with us Alan, it would end in murder. One of our new drivers opted to take his test in an auto, but he drives a manual Pete... I was just surprised that there is the option to do it that way.

alandoug

Jo drove rigid trucks in the TA, she also worked on the French side of Eurotunnel for 4 years. Thus is used to left hand drive as well as speaking excellent French. She was tested by French people on her language skills. A little bit more to her than meets the eye..... Don't I bloody know it !

Gremmie

We are working on a scheme with MPI & Manitoba Trucking Assoc. to train new drivers. Basicly every thing is paid for, but the applicant has to stay in the system for 2 years, they driving school is paid for then they go to a company for further on the job training. Its a new system still has some wrinkles but its getting their.
What we are finding with new driver is they are not being taught how to use the splitter, some are even being told not to use it So when they come to us our mentors have to teach them that bit We have complained to the schools.

flat to the mat

When learning to pass the test in a city pulling an empty trailer why would you split gears ?? Never touched it during my lesson or test ,I was too busy playing tunes

alandoug

Missus says she never even got into top gear on her test...
Was only shown splitter once, then never used it. I was dead chuffed when she passed, little did I know my problems had only just begun. First trip was a night run from Calgary to Vancouver - loaded with meat. Guess who did most of that? Then down to Los Angeles from Vancouver, but it was urgent... She thought curtains were used at night, women! Sorry dear, follow the white line. After about 2 hours behind the wheel she knew the bloody lot, oh & I was the most useless instructor she could have been cursed with.