Truck driving in Canada, maybe, any advice please.

[mark2jag]

Right then ladies, Gentlemen, and those who are as yet undecided, a question for you, especially if you work/live in Canada.

I am led to believe there are quite a few Brits driving for a living in Canada, and I am hoping that there might be one or 2 on here who wouldnt mind answering my questions/ramble.

Is there a demand for Brit HGV(articulated licence) drivers, and does anyone have any useful contacts/hints tips please.

I currently work for the MOD here in the good old UK, and on March 31st 2014, my job is gone, finished kaput and no more. I get a rather 'andsome payout(ERRRR NOTTTTTT!!!!!!!) for my troubles, and over 15 years of loyal service. YES YES YES i do know Google is my friend, but I'm rather taken aback by the somewhat divided views I have so far found on it. Several posters seem to think it was a WOFTAM (waste of fucking time and money) and an equal number think its the dogs bollocks and its fecking brilliant.

Anyone know what the money is like?? Drivers hours (restricted or not).Living conditions, etc etc, all the day to day stuff i might miss by just looking on Fecking Google... I did try and speak to someone who does the job over there about 2 weeks ago, but so far absolutely no reply.

like I said I could go on Google and find out, but a better idea would be to speak to someone who has been there done that and not only got the T shirt, but washed it and is now wearing it again...

Is it a complete WOFTAM OR NOT??? Over to you.


Thank you , and OUT.

Mark

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Mark

I was offered a job out there a couple of years ago subject to me passing my Canadian test which would have been no problem. The money was barely liveable and you would be working maximum driving hours and would never be at home. You are paid by the km/mile and believe me, you really have to get them in. I spoke with a couple of Brits in Canada this year and they both said you have to spend a couple of years doing these jobs whilst you get the experience and then you can move onto the better paying jobs of which there are plenty.

The plus side is Canada is a superb place to live if you like the great outdoors and prices are about the same as here. You are also being paid to see North America but you will sitting in the drivers seat looking out of a window.

Drivers hours are long and you can legally do 15 hours shifts of which 13 can be driving. These are way longer than ours and are pretty tough and long by anyones standards.

I decided against it because I don't want or need be driving trucks 24/7 for peanuts and if I was to go and live in Canada, I would want to enjoy it.

I will dig out the links I had and get you some contacts so you can look into it further.

 

[mark2jag]

Cheers for that, much appreciated. look forward to it.



Mark

 

[STUBBS]

could the mod not get you a job at batus?

 

[mark2jag]

thats a bloody good point....

Cheers Stubbs, to be honest I hadnt thought of that,probably wouldnt be able to find anyone who could help though, unless you have any pointers/know someone who knows someone???. A bit ironic also as have been to BATUS with TA to fix up/move/scrap/repair about 20 or 30 VERY VERY abused and dejected looking vehicles. There were also a few very badly fire damaged veh's that were definitely BER (beyond economic repair).

Thanks for the suggestion.


Mark.

 

[mark2jag]

Mark

I was offered a job out there a couple of years ago subject to me passing my Canadian test which would have been no problem. The money was barely liveable and you would be working maximum driving hours and would never be at home. You are paid by the km/mile and believe me, you really have to get them in. I spoke with a couple of Brits in Canada this year and they both said you have to spend a couple of years doing these jobs whilst you get the experience and then you can move onto the better paying jobs of which there are plenty.

The plus side is Canada is a superb place to live if you like the great outdoors and prices are about the same as here. You are also being paid to see North America but you will sitting in the drivers seat looking out of a window.

Drivers hours are long and you can legally do 15 hours shifts of which 13 can be driving. These are way longer than ours and are pretty tough and long by anyones standards.

I decided against it because I don't want or need be driving trucks 24/7 for peanuts and if I was to go and live in Canada, I would want to enjoy it.

I will dig out the links I had and get you some contacts so you can look into it further.

Hello again. Did you have any luck with that further info ref driving in Canada?? i have made Google my friend , but would seem like there's lot of unscrupulous people out there who merely want to part you from your dosh. Got my little brown envelope in the post today, Last day of Service is March 31st 2014. Hope it all goes ok, if not I'll stick with my MPGS application assuming it has been processed by Army records at Glasgow in the next 6 months,as apparently they can't cope with the backlog of applications.........HMMMMMMM er ok then

Mark.

 

[mark2jag]

bumping this topic in case anyone hasnt seen it yet and might be able to help. Whats that old saying "God loves a trier".


Yeah, and for that reason , I'm OUT.