Uk bus driver wanting to get truck licence
#1
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 234
Uk bus driver wanting to get truck licence
Hi I am a bus driver in the UK and I'm looking to get a truck licence in canada .Does anyone know what school is best to get one ? Preferably in nova Scotia but it could be anywhere .Also when I get my licence would it be easy enough to get a job as I would be a new driver ? I am also looking at bus driving jobs temporary as I think I would enjoy truck driving more.Also what is the average salary you could earn ? I would like to stay in canada and not travel around America .
#2
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Joined: Feb 2010
Location: High River AB
Posts: 571
Re: Uk bus driver wanting to get truck licence
Are you a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada ?
If not you need a LMIA/TWP but you also need experience driving Class1 to get the TWP.
Someone will be along to explain this bit a lot easier than I can.
If not you need a LMIA/TWP but you also need experience driving Class1 to get the TWP.
Someone will be along to explain this bit a lot easier than I can.
#4
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Re: Uk bus driver wanting to get truck licence
Regarding the East Coast.
Average would be about $17.70 an hour. Plenty of companies happy to pay you less. Expect to work 60 - 70 hours a week. The concept of overtime, being paid extra for weekend shifts or nights is something most companies here cant get there head around. If the truck is off the road or there is a snow storm you sit home and earn $0 - its perfectly legal. The industry seems to exist on a live to work mentality. You will get 2 weeks paid holiday for the first 5 years you are with a company you get a 3rd week after that and a fourth after 10 years service. I dont know any companies here that will offer you more than that. On top of the piss poor allowance they seem to think seniority is a thing. So as the newbie you can take your pittance of vacation once everyone else has had dibs on it.
Dont quote me on this but I believe the courses are in the $10 grand range and last about 12 weeks. Amazingly enough they still cant drive after this! The sort of companies that will hire you as a newbie are the bottom feeders desperate for meat in the seat. You may drop lucky but its very unlikely because there are very few well paid jobs, even fewer that are sensible hours and no weekends. The locals have these sewn up. Nepotism is rife here. You might not even get a sniff at a plumb job because once that driver retires/ moves on etc his nephew or mates son is getting the job.
If you are serious about coming to Canada to drive Class 1 I would strongly recommend that you put yourself through it in the UK, get a year or two experience doing local delivery/ shunting - something that challenges you and involves lots of practice reversing etc and then come to Canada. You can then find a company here do a crash course to convert your skills and challenge the test.
I am not trying to put you off but you help you come here with your eyes open.
Average would be about $17.70 an hour. Plenty of companies happy to pay you less. Expect to work 60 - 70 hours a week. The concept of overtime, being paid extra for weekend shifts or nights is something most companies here cant get there head around. If the truck is off the road or there is a snow storm you sit home and earn $0 - its perfectly legal. The industry seems to exist on a live to work mentality. You will get 2 weeks paid holiday for the first 5 years you are with a company you get a 3rd week after that and a fourth after 10 years service. I dont know any companies here that will offer you more than that. On top of the piss poor allowance they seem to think seniority is a thing. So as the newbie you can take your pittance of vacation once everyone else has had dibs on it.
Dont quote me on this but I believe the courses are in the $10 grand range and last about 12 weeks. Amazingly enough they still cant drive after this! The sort of companies that will hire you as a newbie are the bottom feeders desperate for meat in the seat. You may drop lucky but its very unlikely because there are very few well paid jobs, even fewer that are sensible hours and no weekends. The locals have these sewn up. Nepotism is rife here. You might not even get a sniff at a plumb job because once that driver retires/ moves on etc his nephew or mates son is getting the job.
If you are serious about coming to Canada to drive Class 1 I would strongly recommend that you put yourself through it in the UK, get a year or two experience doing local delivery/ shunting - something that challenges you and involves lots of practice reversing etc and then come to Canada. You can then find a company here do a crash course to convert your skills and challenge the test.
I am not trying to put you off but you help you come here with your eyes open.
Last edited by scrubbedexpat133; Aug 27th 2018 at 3:27 am.