According to a recent assessment, the Canadian trucking industry would be short 48,000 long-haul drivers by 2024. This is excellent news for truck drivers, as it will present a perfect chance for truck drivers seeking to move to Canada. Moreover, the Canadian transportation industry continues to have a high demand for long-haul truck drivers and a dearth of available positions. The Canadian government has also supported these developments by issuing work visas to suitable international truck drivers seeking employment in the country.
Canadian visa process can easily be found in the bellow link before further reading.
Job Requirements for Truck Drivers in Canada (With Visa Sponsorship)
Let’s take a look at the prerequisites for getting a truck driver job in Canada. This will help you know what’s required to get a visa sponsorship truck driver job being a foreigner in Canada. They include the following:
- Truck driver jobs in Canada include permanent, full-time, overtime, weekend, day, night, and evening works.
- A secondary school diploma is preferred but not essential for this position.
Heavy-duty driving expertise is a plus, but it is not essential. - The ability to communicate in basic or functional English is necessary.
- Certificates, Licenses, memberships, courses, and other credentials will be required for this job.
- A valid driver’s license (Class 1 or A) is necessary, as well as the Air Brake (Z) Endorsement.
- Trucking and Equipment Types: Tractor-trailer, Flatbed, Refrigerated, Highway, Straight truck (4,600kg+ or 10,000lbs+ with 3+ axles).
- Safety and Security: Basic security clearance, criminal background check, driving record check (abstract), medical examination, and drug test are all required.
- Information about transportation and travel: Willing to travel throughout Canada and the United States. Willing to travel during the day, evening, or night, including overnight routes, and willing to travel for long periods of time.
- Other: Candidates must be legally permitted to work in Canada and willing to operate in a two-person team to drive long-haul trucks.
Skills Required:
- Ability to operate and drive straight or articulated trucks for the transportation of products and supplies.
- Cargo loading and unloading, tarping, and guaranteeing cargo safety and security
- Ability to plan your trip routes and schedules.
- You should have the ability to use atlases and other planning tools to help you plan your journey.
- Receive information and relay it to the central dispatcher.
- The ability to drive in a convoy or as part of a two-person squad.
- You should also be able to examine the vehicle’s condition and inspect the tires, lights, brakes, cold storage, and other equipment.
Top Provincial Programs in Canada for Truck Driver Jobs
Here is the rundown of the leading programs to find a truck driver job with visa sponsorship in Canada:
British Columbia
British Columbia is a provincial program for truck drivers in Canada is A full-time job offer in long-haul trucking is the gold standard for candidates in British Columbia’s entry-level and semi-skilled category, which has over 400 positions on the job bank. Long-haul drivers can live in the province permanently. Learn more about immigration in British Columbia by visiting their website at https://www.immigration.ca/british-columbia-immigration/.
Quebec
With 837 job adverts now available, Quebec leads the way in terms of provincial opportunities for truck drivers. According to information on the Quebec government’s employment website, truck driver employment prospects are ‘excellent’ with their platform. Access Quebec website at https://www.immigration.ca/en/quebecimmigrationprovincial.html.
Ontario
In July 2019, the NOC code for transport truck drivers (7511) was added to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream, along with three other occupations. It means that experienced truck drivers who have a work offer in Ontario can follow a defined path to permanent residence in Canada. Learn more about immigration at https://www.immigration.ca/en/ontario-immigration.html.
Alberta
Long-haul truckers are also in high demand through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. The employment bank lists more than 500 job openings for long-haul truckers. Truck drivers can use both the Alberta Opportunity Stream and the Alberta Express Entry.
Manitoba
Employers wishing to hire truck drivers in Manitoba should use the federal Labour Market Impact Assessment for Temporary Foreign Workers process. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program only allows businesses to hire outside of the LMIA procedure provided certain criteria are met, such as recruitment efforts and compliance with provincial labor laws. Visit the Manitoba immigration website at https://www.immigration.ca/en/manitoba-immigration.html to discover more.
Newfoundland and Labrador
This is a province in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador The Labour Market Outlook 2025 report in Newfoundland and Labrador highlights truck driving as an occupation that will require significant immigration to meet job vacancy demand. For the NLPNP’s Skilled Worker and Express Entry streams, trucking companies must apply to be eligible employers.
Saskatchewan
For people already working in Canada on a work permit, Saskatchewan Immigration has a separate Long-Haul Truck Drivers Sub-Category. The occupation also qualifies for the province’s Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand categories, which each draw targets certain occupations.
Nova Scotia
Transport Truck Drivers (NOC 7511) are one of the two jobs that the Occupations In-Demand Stream of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program is looking for. This makes it easy for drivers to get a permanent place to live. Through this program, you can try to get a job as a truck driver in Canada and have your visa paid for.
Wages for Truck Drivers in Canada
The hourly wages of truck drivers are now close to the national and provincial averages. According to data from job bank and Statistics Canada, the median wage of a truck driver is slightly less than the national average. However, in some situations, it can go up to $32 per hour, which is more than $8 more than the national average. As expected, truck drivers’ wages are expected to go up as demand for jobs grows in the coming years.
Conclusion
If you are interested in a truck driver job in Canada that provides visa sponsorship for foreign nationals, then you have arrived to the correct spot. This article emphasized the many opportunities that are available and the various programs that offer them.
Leave a Comment