Short term in Canada?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS EX-PAT BRITISH TRUCKERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

I’ve had a good look around on here and I can’t find the answer to my question so I’m hoping someone can help.

A few years ago I came across an ad asking for drivers to go over to Canada for either 3 or 6 months at a time. I’m guessing this is done on a working visa.

I would love to take the family over there permenently but I’d rather find out if trucking over there is as good as I hope it will be prior to up-rooting my kids and the wife.

I spent 4 months over there near Calgary a few years back and I loved the place, the people were so nice. I was with the army then.

So, does anyone know if this is something that I can do and what is needed to go do it?

Gloria.

2

Don’t know about short term most is done by contract which can be anywhere from 2 yrs to 4 years. IF you do find a company here you can usually make arrangements to go home once in a while. Another thing its not the best companies that hire overseas it is usually the one’s who cant keep people on from here so you have to be really careful and do alot of checking on the company, then realize that once you have perm status you can go to one of the good companies for full time.

3

Those short term contracts are usually for things like the harvest, and that will not give you any idea about driving here.

But if you feel you aren’t sure, then you aren’t sure, simple as that… You can’t think of emigrating then change your mind six months on and expect to come out of it without losing out.

Still not entirely sure that the firms that hire from overseas are bad, but they do make bad decisions at times and the driver is the one that pays for those decisions.

4

I didnt say they were “BAD” I said they cant get people from over here and keep them. There is a difference some companies just enjoy treating their drivers like ■■■■. I wont mention and names for companies with green trucks.

5

I think they can’t get people to stay regardless of their origin. I don’t think they care if people stay or not which is the main problem…

6

BTD, that sums it up really, they view the drivers as disposable assets, they don’t care about them as there’s always another one to replace the departing crew, although they’re running out of people to [zb] over now, the decent hard working Canadians won’t work there, they can’t get Brits anymore because immigration are sick of people being mistreated, so now they’re hiring Asians, who, let’s face it, are not the best drivers :open_mouth:

Successful companies look after their drivers and as a result they get good drivers, they realise that as a transport company they need drivers as they’re the most important part of the puzzle, good drivers make the management team’s job easier, the sales team’s job easier, the workshops job’s easier and they put money in the bank for the owners, not exactly rocket science is it :bulb:

7

What’s going on here?

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

8

mickfly:
What’s going on here?

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

Why can’t it be both?

9

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

Depends if you are talking about Robbbieeee then it is the loser driver, If your talking about Tom Van Dam and Big Freight Systems then its the company. Tom Van Dam is the Vice President of office stupidity.

Its like this I ust got a letter from the Justice Department they have been informed of my complaint against BFS, and wrote me to tell me they are putting in a request to the RCMP to investigate. That is the company treating their people like ■■■■. Robbieeee well he is Robbieee doesnt have a clue never will but he is a laugh and some of the guys like playing with him. errrrr well not playing that way but you know what I mean.

10

Brentanna:

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

Depends if you are talking about Robbbieeee then it is the loser driver, If your talking about Tom Van Dam and Big Freight Systems then its the company. Tom Van Dam is the Vice President of office stupidity.

Its like this I ust got a letter from the Justice Department they have been informed of my complaint against BFS, and wrote me to tell me they are putting in a request to the RCMP to investigate. That is the company treating their people like [zb]. Robbieeee well he is Robbieee doesnt have a clue never will but he is a laugh and some of the guys like playing with him. errrrr well not playing that way but you know what I mean.

You mean you all join in and bully him (yes you do), instead of simply ignoring his posts.

11

Big Jon’s dad:

mickfly:
What’s going on here?

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

Why can’t it be both?

It can be both of course, I met some right lazy buggers over there, and quite a few who only wanted to prop bars up, but I met some right grafters at H&R who were simply starved of miles, and couldn’t do anything about it, and I was even told by the boss of the company to, and I really do quote his exact words… “■■■■ it up Mikey boy, it’s the Canadian way” when I was given 4 days to drive 600 miles.

There are many many ‘losers and failures’ back in the UK who risked everything because companies are not controlled over there.

I always advise people to put up with the crap for 2 years then get PR and move on, but it’s really the wrong advice, isn’t it?
Shouldn’t the Canadian gov’t or YOU Canadian drivers be doing something to stop the constant turn around of Brits/Dutch/Belgian/German drivers with families who are being screwed, instead of being self righteous about how YOU are doing great thanks very much, as it stinks of the ‘I’m all right Jack attitude’.

Just my opinion, and I’m not really interested in arguing the points, as I am doing great in the UK (but miss the easy driving in N America)

12

What’s going on here?

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

What are you talking about exactly?
Everyone knows that the companies who take on drivers from the UK are crap to work for or else why the hell would they need to recruit from half way round the world?
By stating that ALL expats insult you then presumably that would include me? Please be more exact as i do not ever remember insulting you.
What i definitely will say is that it is certainly possible to make a success of long haul trucking over here and go on to have a fantastic and very much improved life. I am saying that as someone who already had a good life with a good driving job back in the UK. I was not trying to escape from anything yet i can say with total conviction that emigration was the best thing that me and my family ever did.
When i first came to Canada in 2007 I had no advantages over any other would-be expats including the ones who ultimately (or in some cases very quickly) returned to the UK. Indeed i was on flat deck work and i have always maintained that my first year in Canada was the hardest year of my life.
I emigrated at the same time as many other Brits and they are almost without exception all still here enjoying their new lives.
This is not to say that there were not a few guys who did not make a success of emigration to Canada for various reasons. Some because of family issues, others simply decided that it was not for them. Some were out of their depth and just could not cut it out here. Some slipped quietly back into their old lives and put the whole experience down to being part of the rich tapestry of life.
Others felt very sore about the whole experience and went back ■■■■■■■■ and moaning and blaming the whole experience on the companies and Canada in general even sometimes to the detriment of the guys who worked hard and were successful.
I have no idea which catagory you feel that you belong to Mick Fly but as they say, “if the cap fits, wear it”.

13

wire:
Others felt very sore about the whole experience and went back ■■■■■■■■ and moaning and blaming the whole experience on the companies and Canada in general even sometimes to the detriment of the guys who worked hard and were successful.
I have no idea which catagory you feel that you belong to Mick Fly but as they say, “if the cap fits, wear it”.

Obviously in that last category above, except I have never criticised the country or people in Canada, and how could my criticism of ONE company be to the detriment of successful guys?
I was only ever dissapointed in how crap the company was and how much they got away with and still do, never bitter, just dissapointed.

14

mickfly:
What’s going on here?

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

Mick I think you should re read the above statement and realise how insulting it is to those of us who have backed you all the way and as for that robbbiieee all he deserves is to be attacked ffs

By all means attack a POST, but please DO NOT attack the person. dd.

15

You mean you all join in and bully him (yes you do), instead of simply ignoring his posts.

Read again I have asked a number of times that he be baned, but the men here kinda like how stupid he is and enjoy proving him wrong. :laughing: Which isnt hard with the crap he comes up with, I have met 5 year olds who are smarter. He loves the attention other wise he wouldnt keep coming back. It is most likely the most attention he has ever gotten in his life poor fellow. Probably comes from a broken home where the dog beat the ■■■■ out of him.

16

Brentanna:
where the dog beat the [zb] out of him.

Don’t blame me, I never met the bloke!! :laughing:

Mick, steday on, mate. I still do not think the companies are crap, but the one most of us have worked at has changed since I was first there and not for the better. That said, it is a hell of a trial by fire and if you can take the rougher end then you can take anything. Thing is, I only criticise those that earn it, as in people I know, as a rule, or those that earn it through spurious crap like rrrroooooobbbbbbbiiieeiieeiiee spouts.

You know this already. Do you actually think that roooobbbbbiiiieeeiiiees posts are reasonable?

17

mickfly:
What’s going on here?

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

I don’t insult anybody personally, with one exception, but that is in good spirits, robbbie enjoys playing his little game with us, that’s what it is after all, just a game, he says tomaYto, I say tomaRto, he calls me a mug, I call him a mass debator, no big deal really, I don’t want him banned. I will, however, attack his postings, robbbbie hates the trucking industry full stop, he is just on a wind up, he wants us to bite and we oblidge.

Now in your case, the cap obviously does fit, yeah you had a bad deal at H&R, well so [zb]ing what? My time at BFS was no holiday, but I didn’t give up at the first hurdle, there are thousand’s of firms in Canada, so I found another one, now I’ve got all the things that BFS promised me that Canada had to offer, I just don’t have anything to do with them anymore, of course, I could’ve hung around at BFS until I went skint and then blamed everyone else for my misfortune.

18

dave_lol66:

mickfly:
What’s going on here?

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

Mick I think you should re read the above statement and realise how insulting it is to those of us who have backed you all the way and as for that prick robbbiieee all he deserves is to be attacked ffs

No insults were intended Dave, and Robbie does seem to have a downer on the whole of Canada and anyone living or working there, and goes off on strange rants, but he would still be best ignored.

The people who have struggled through the crap treatment/low miles/unpaid stand downs and forced resets etc as TFW’s in long haul trucking have my full respect, as I have said so many times elsewhere, plus, if I was desperate to get my family PR I would have put up with it too, but that doesn’t make it right!

This doesn’t stop that fact that there are people on this thread admitting that the TFW companies are crap, but on other threads, simply blame the European drivers.

I see H&R are back in the UK recruiting again in February, probably to replace the ones on facebook who are bad mouthing them big style!

19

newmercman:
Now in your case, the cap obviously does fit, yeah you had a bad deal at H&R, well so [zb]ing what? My time at BFS was no holiday, but I didn’t give up at the first hurdle, there are thousand’s of firms in Canada, so I found another one, now I’ve got all the things that BFS promised me that Canada had to offer, I just don’t have anything to do with them anymore, of course, I could’ve hung around at BFS until I went skint and then blamed everyone else for my misfortune.

Unfortunately the good firms seem to have difficulty getting LMO’s nowadays, so jumping is not so easy.

“I could’ve hung around at BFS until I went skint and then blamed everyone else for my misfortune.”

I wouldn’t have done that at H&R either, and if we had returned I would have probably done ok moneywise with them (in our situation as trucking gyppos), but that would have included accepting loads of unpaid sitting around, which has always been my main complaint about them.

The company say in their documentation that they pay layover, but they don’t! so, therefore they don’t care if you are sitting!

20

mickfly:

dave_lol66:

mickfly:
What’s going on here?

You are all in agreement that the companies who generally take on TFW’s can’t keep them because they treat people badly, BUT, you ALL only offer personal insults to anyone who returns to the UK from said companies, then has the temerity to criticise them and warn other potential temp workers!

Make your damned minds up. Is it the crap companies or the loser drivers?

Mick I think you should re read the above statement and realise how insulting it is to those of us who have backed you all the way and as for that prick robbbiieee all he deserves is to be attacked ffs

No insults were intended Dave, and Robbie does seem to have a downer on the whole of Canada and anyone living or working there, and goes off on strange rants, but he would still be best ignored.

The people who have struggled through the crap treatment/low miles/unpaid stand downs and forced resets etc as TFW’s in long haul trucking have my full respect, as I have said so many times elsewhere, plus, if I was desperate to get my family PR I would have put up with it too, but that doesn’t make it right!

This doesn’t stop that fact that there are people on this thread admitting that the TFW companies are crap, but on other threads, simply blame the European drivers.
I see H&R are back in the UK recruiting again in February, probably to replace the ones on facebook who are bad mouthing them big style!

Still not sure where you are going with this Mick, the majority of people that I know personally on here all left their original employers before gaining PR and are still here in Canada :exclamation: The problem therefore must have been with the employer not the employee and looking through other threads it seems most of have stated come here work for a crap dodgy company accept the ■■■■, get pr and move on so how does that equate to blaming European immigrant drivers :question:
What is it you are expecting us to do, all leave our jobs and come back to Britain under protest at the way TFW get treated by some companies.
Look back at the threads on here, come to Canada but be aware of what to expect and be prepared for the crap, its worth it long term, doesn’t make it right but what are we to do apart from inform :question: :question: :question: