Hello Everyone.
My name is Jim Bunting, I live in Toronto. Canada.
I’m NOT a recruiter, or an agent for a driver hiring company
. Just a Canadian guy who wants to help UK drivers to find out about the job situation in Canada for HGV drivers.
I can help you with information from my own knowledge, or point you to information websites that have accurate and up to date facts about the Immigration process and the trucking industry in my country.
A bit about me. I’m 61, born in Toronto and now retired after having served 30 years in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1966 to 1996, when I retired at age 50. I was a Military Police investigator, and have been stationed in all 10 of the Canadian Provinces as well as postings in Germany, Belgium ( NATO HQ ) Cyprus and Bosnia. When I retired, I spent 6 years "on the road " in Canada and the USA , operating my own one ton Ford van as a "expeditor " doing emergency high value deliveries, under contract to Dynamex in Cambridge, Ontario, so I do have direct "hands on " North American experience in the trucking business.
Canada is the second largest country in the world, only Russia is bigger than Canada is. It encompasses six times zones, and is more than 5,000 MILES across, from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. BUT the populatioin is only HALF that of the UK at 33 million people.
So what does that mean to a HGV driver? Lots of SPACE on the roads, with little if any congestion, once you leave the cities behind. A national highway system that was DESIGNED for rapid movement of vehicles, and not one that evolved from wagon trails 500 years ago. Trucks that are designed for the open roads and have creature comforts that are rarely seen in Europe. Companies that treat the drivers as humans and pay them for their skills and their ability to think as well as drive.
Canada is the "new world " and one of the first things that UK vistors to my country remark on is " Every one is so friendly here ". " It"s so clean no graffitti " and of course, "look at all the new homes and stores here " Canada has been a Immigrant destination for more than 300 years, and of course it was a British crown colony, until we obtained our independance in 1867. Our laws, social life and Government /Parliament are all based on British common law principles, BUT we have also forged our own way of doing things that is a mixture of the British past and some things borrowed from our neighbours in the USA, next door.
My own ancestors came to Canada in 1801, 206 years ago, from Northern Isreland. They were 3 brothers , and their wives and kids, 14 people in total, who were given free land grants in Canada. They had a very rough time of it and it took them about 8 years to get established, after cutting down 150 foot tall oak and elm tress to build their first cabins in the forest 60 miles to the northwest of what is now the city of Toronto. Those first 330 acres of land are now a part of our family farm operation, which is now over 800 acres in size, and has a dairy and beef cattle herd as well as apple and cherry orchards.
In the next ten years, Canada will need at least 50,000 HGV drivers to replace those that are now nearing retirement age. In addition, Canada is STILL growing at a amazing pace. With such a huge country, with such vast distances, we NEED drivers, of all kinds.
So, if you have ever thought about moving to Canada, but didn’t know where to go to get information, ASK me here. If I know, I’ll tell you what I know. If I don’t now the answer to your question, I’ll find out for you and put the answer here.
To start the ball roling here is the main Government of Canada, Immigration information website, SAVE the website for future refference and READ it thru, to see what the requirements are to be accepted to come to Canada. As a HGV driver you would be applying under the "Skilled Worker " class
Remember that Canada has strict rules about who can enter the country and Immigration applicants have to score a minimum of 67 points on the pre test to be "considered for acceptance “. The main items are " Educational levels " “work experience /number of years worked,” and skill certficates and personal and business letters of refference” No persons with criminal convictions or bankruptcies will be considered , and you will need to be able to bring enough cash or credit , to support your self for a year in Canada.
Cheers Jim Bunting. Toronto.
