It is no news that Canada, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, is facing a significant shortage of skilled truck drivers.
The Canadian trucking industry has a windfall of over 25,000 truck drivers due to its overreliance on freight transportation.
This has created a great opportunity for people seeking relocation to Canada to secure a job that comes with visa sponsorship.
Here are the reasons why truck drivers are in high demand and how you can secure a truck driver job in Canada with visa sponsorship
Why Are Truck Drivers In High Demand In Canada?
The demand for truck drivers in Canada is on the rise, and there is no sign of a decline despite the recent wave of immigrants taking up high-paying roles in the freight industry.
The significant shortage and high demand of skilled drivers are as a result of
1. Aging Workforce Population
Many young Canadians are not willing to work as truck drivers in the freight industry, and this has created a great windfall because the older generations are nearing retirement age.
This has created a void that has to be filled with immigrants, mostly from third-world nations.
As a result, Canada has employed over 24,200 truck drivers in the last 4 years since 2020, with immigrants a majority of the newly recruited workforce.
2. Fast-Growing Economy
Canada is experiencing a fast-growing economy due to the increased trade with the United States and other partner nations due to the increased cross-border trade.
This has led to an increase in exportation and less reliance on imports, contributing to the need to move produce from farmers to manufacturers and warehouses for export.
As a result, the need for truck drivers has more than tripled
3. E-commerce Growth
The Canadian e-commerce sector has grown from $13.8 billion to $34.6 billion within 4 years from 2015 to 2020 and is projected to grow to $61.45 billion by 2029.
This has created more demand and pressure on truck drivers to meet up with the increase in demand largely caused by COVID-19, thereby creating a big challenge for trucking companies to satisfy this demand.
4. Regulatory Changes
Technology is rapidly changing as innovations such as electronic logging devices are brought to the marketplace for use, which has not been easy for the elderly driver population to adapt.
As a result, there is a need for young and skilled drivers who can easily adapt to new technologies.
What are the requirements for truck drivers in Canada?
To work as a truck driver, just as in any other skilled industry in Canada, you have to meet these requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a work permit or Canadian citizenship
- You must have a class 1 ( every vehicle except a motorcycle) or class 3 license ( you can drive a tandem axle truck and passenger vehicle)
- Intending drivers must have a medical certificate from a certified medical professional proving they meet the vision standards by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA)
- You must complete a training program in the province or territory you want to work in, or you can do a transfer of an equivalent from your home country.
- Must have no criminal record
- Must have a driver abstract
- You must have cargo and liability insurance
- Must be fluent in English or French.
How to Find a Truck Driver Job in Canada
The truck driver job, just like other industries, requires you to research companies that offer reasonable pay, working hours, and conditions.
After that, you need to apply to your preferred company by sending in your CV and resume and wait for an interview where you can negotiate a suitable offer that involves visa sponsorship.
Below is the list of companies offering truck drivers jobs in Canada
1. DF Booking recruitment services
Location: Ontario
Job Type: Full-time employment
Salary: based on years of experience and skills.
2. Graylands Trucking Limited
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Job Type: Full-time employment
Salary: based on years of experience (minimum of 2-3 years), CAD 20 to 30 hourly, and skills.
3. 2097181 ONTARIO LTD.
Location: Ontario
Job Type: Full-time employment
Salary: competitive salary based on years of experience and skills.
4. Bergen Excavating Limited
Location: White City, SK
Job Type: Full-time employment
Salary: CAD 24 per hour, 40 hours per week.
What is the salary of a truck driver in Canada?
The salary structure for truck drivers in Canada is competitive when compared to other sectors in Canada and the same sector in other countries.
The average salary range for a truck driver in all provinces in Canada is $41, 932 per year, or $21.50 per hour.
Experienced and highly skilled drivers earn more, as high as $57,063 annually.
Benefits of a Truck Driver Job with Visa Scholarship In Canada
1. Competitive salary and other benefits:
The salary structure of truck drivers in Canada is impressive when compared to other nations in the world.
They earn $21.50 per hour, which is very competitive.
They also have access to pensions, great health insurance, etc.
2. Job Security:
Truck drivers are in high demand in Canada, and the ones that are operating are being offered a long contract and visa sponsorship, largely because of the shortage of skilled workers in the industry.
3. Visa Sponsorship and Permanent Residency Route:
Truck driving in Canada is one of the fastest and easiest routes to accessing a visa sponsorship to Canada.
They are in high demand, and it is quite difficult for Canadian immigration to deny applicants visas because of the shortage of skilled young professionals in the industry.
Conclusion
If you want to travel and work in Canada without much hassle, you should consider using the truck driver’s route.