Get a truck driver Jobs in Canada with Visa sponsorship
Canada has experienced a shortage of truck drivers in recent years. According to research, 20% of Canadian truck drivers are over 50 years old. Therefore, the Canadian government pursues a policy of attracting labor from other countries.
The total number of trucking jobs in Canada is constantly changing, as each province has its own specific driver needs. Anyone with truck driving experience can try to get a job with one of the Canadian companies to participate in the Canada Employment and Immigration Program.
Requirements for truck drivers in Canada
As such, there are no requirements for applicants, but the evaluation of companies is guided by the following criteria:
- Education
- Skills and abilities
- Age
- Knowledge of English
- Experience
It is noteworthy that in Canada it is equally easy to find a job for Americans, Russians, Belarusians and generally citizens of any country – employers do not look at citizenship.
The better your level of knowledge and work experience, the more likely you will be offered a driver job in Canada. On the other hand, preference is given to young people, but if you are over 35, the chances decrease dramatically.
Visa for truck drivers to Canada
Immigration Law in Canada is based on the selection of qualified and in-demand international drivers.
The Truck Driver profession, as the work of a truck driver in Canada is called, is on the list of the most sought-after professions. This is primarily due to the large length of the country, and products, things and other goods must be delivered both to the territory of Canada and beyond its borders. Moreover, the work of a tracker is very difficult, which takes into account a number of obligations and a long absence from home. It is the last factor that affects the fact that Canadians are not very willing to take up this work. Most likely, it is for this reason that Canadian companies are interested in attracting foreign specialists.
The move of truck drivers to Canada in stages is no different from the move of other professionals, most often it happens like this:
- you find an employer;
- you get an LMIA work permit;
- issue a work visa;
- deal with the immigration process and obtaining a residence permit.
What nuances can you encounter when obtaining a trucker’s visa
- To work as a trucker, it is necessary to obtain a driver’s license of the first category in Canada.
In this case, there are two options:
- Issue a regular visitor visa and go to study at a driving school. To do this, you need to spend a lot of effort on obtaining a visa and spend a certain amount on education, food, and accommodation. At the same time, if you do not have a visa yet, we do not recommend applying for one to attend a driving school. Recently, there has been a frequent refusal of the visa officer when receiving it. Most likely, this is due to the fact that the main criterion for making a decision by the visa officer is to make sure that after the trip to Canada you will return home. It will be very difficult to prove with an invitation to study. After all, the officer understands that after receiving the license, you will continue to look for work in Canada. As long as you do not have an employer, you will pay all expenses yourself.
- find an employer before coming to Canada. In this case, you will be able to remotely discuss with him the issue of financing part of your expenses. In practice, we often come across when the employer is ready to pay for the flight, part of the accommodation, it is possible to give part of the lifting funds. Therefore, when it comes to tuition costs, you will most likely have to rely on your budget. The cost of studying at a driving school is 10-15 thousand Canadian dollars. It all depends on the school category and modules.
- Before looking for an employer, you need to confirm your work experience.
If you are an experienced driver but are based outside of Canada, you should review the job requirements. As a rule, this is a requirement for the availability of relevant education, qualification level, knowledge of the language and documented work experience in the field, depending on the province.
So, according to the Atlantic immigration program, it will be enough for you to have 1 year of work experience, and the province of Manitoba selects specialists with 3 or more years of work.
If you have no work experience, you should use the first option and look for an employer after finishing the driving school. In this case, your advantage will be Canadian rights.
To confirm work experience, you must provide:
- resume;
- copies of previous work contracts;
- confirmation of payroll;
- a letter of recommendation from the employer, which should indicate the terms of employment and duties performed.
Where to look for Visa sponsorship
The most popular source of information are websites (official jobbank and canadaindeed) and advertisements (newspapers, magazines, recommendations of driving schools). Another source is to choose a specific Canadian city in which you want to work, carefully study all the offers of transport companies and send out a resume.
Language and relevant education requirements
To immigrate to Canada, proficiency in the English language and having a relevant education is a mandatory requirement.
The required level of knowledge of the English language is confirmed according to the International Testing System (IELTS). Requirements may vary from province to province. An average IELTS score of 4 is usually required.
To confirm the candidate’s education, it is necessary to contact the Canadian organization, which will conduct a comparative analysis of the education you received with the Canadian one. This procedure is mandatory and takes time. We recommend doing it in advance.
Qualified assistance in obtaining a trucker’s visa
Specialists of our company are ready to help with issues related to immigration and visa support. With us, you can get advice on preparing documents, filling out a questionnaire, and translating documents. There are certain selection criteria for immigration. This will depend on which package of documents to prepare and which requirements to fulfill. You can learn about them at a consultation with our specialists.
Working conditions
Working as a truck driver in Canada is not easy. The country is large, long flights are often required, and the weather conditions are difficult in the north. The work is often associated with great risk, but it is well paid. On average, a trucker earns 40-50 Canadian dollars per hour, plus a 50 cent bonus per mile. Some companies issue compensation for meals and accommodation in hotels.
As a rule, on average, a truck driver spends 9-10 days on the road, after which he gets 3-5 days off. But if the company specializes in transportation over short distances, then the schedule may be different.
After you have worked in Canada for 9 months, you can apply for immigration. In addition, after employment, the right to reside in the country is granted to all family members – wife and children.
Where to start?
First of all, you need to find an employer (at the end of the article we will provide a list of companies that hire foreigners and Internet sites where you can find a job as a driver in Canada).
Next, send your resume in English and wait for a response. After you have received an invitation to work, you need to get a work visa.
Alternatively, you can contact an employment agency that will help you find a good employer. In this way, you will have to spend some money, but you will be freed from routine work. Agencies provide support in Canada, which is important, as it is always difficult to settle in a new place.
Upon arrival, you will need to apply for a Canadian Professional Truck Driver Operator license, only after that you will be able to start work. As a rule, the company inviting you to work organizes training, so there should be no questions.
Where to find work and fresh vacancies?
Below we publish a list of sites that can be useful when searching for vacancies. These are both state resources and portals of private companies that are ready to offer work in Canada for non-Canadians:
Saskatchewan – the official website of the Saskatchewan Workforce Recruitment Program