Last Updated on abril 3, 2017

High demand for long-haul truck drivers (HGV Drivers) means a Canada visa is widely available to foreign workers looking for jobs in Canada, in this occupation.

The Canadian trucking industry is facing a shortage of long haul drivers to the tune of 48,000 by 2024, meaning those seeking Canada immigration have an excellent opportunity.

With an average age of 47 and rising, the sector has one of the oldest workforces, with a third of drivers over 55, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

Typically, a long-haul trucker might spend up to 14 days at a time on the road, working 12 hour shifts, with three days off in between.

Average salary ranges from $55,000 to $65,000, although drivers are often paid bonuses by the mile, enabling them to earn significantly more.

A search of Canada’s federal government’s job bank reveals nearly 4,000 vacancies, each one of them with a possible route to a Canada visa.

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Job Bank Vacancies for Truck Drivers

CANADA	3,918
Quebec	1,481
Ontario	1,106
British Columbia	561
Alberta	329
Saskatchewan	152
New Brunswick	79
Nova Scotia	61
Manitoba	58
Newfoundland & Labrador	39
Prince Edward Island	12

Source: www.jobbank.gc.ca

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This kind of demand means experienced applicants are likely to be successful with Canada immigration if applying to any of the provincial nominee programs.

Interested candidates begin the process by obtaining a confirmed job offer that is approved by immigration Canada.  Ideally an approved job offer will be in a province that offers Canadian permanent residence under a long-haul driver pilot project.

Immigration.ca through its in-house  Global Recruiters of Montreal, works on behalf of a number of employers to source qualified foreign long haul drivers.  Qualified candidates will receive a temporary Canada work permit.  After a period of transition, candidates can apply for Canadian permanent residence (Canada immigration) under provincial nomination programs (PNP).

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Truck Drivers: Provincial Nomination Programs

New Brunswick

The province of New Brunswick currently has specific recruitment avenues for truck drivers from Poland and the Ukraine. To qualify you must have experience as a truck driver or harvest machine operator in the last five years, plus meet other age and education requirements. The province recently held information session in New York, San Francisco and Atlanta hoping to attract US truck drivers to make the move north. The province has an established pilot project offering Canadian permanent residence. For more information on the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, click here.

Quebec

Quebec leads the way in terms of provincial vacancies for truck drivers, with nearly 1,500 job ads currently live. Labour market information on the Quebec government’s employment website singles out the profession as one of the most in demand in the whole province. Click here for more.

Ontario

More than 1,000 truck driver vacancies are being advertised in the province of Ontario. The Ontario PNP does not offer permanent residence to long haul drivers.  The province does not list specific in-demand occupations, preferring to default to the federal government’s general classifications. Click here for more.

British Columbia

In British Columbia, which has more than 500 vacancies on the job bank, the gold standard for candidates for its entry level and semi-skilled category is a full-time job offer in long-haul trucking. The province offers permanent residence for long-haul drivers.  Click here for more.

Alberta

Long-haul drivers are also a key sought-after profession under the Alberta PNP, showing more than 300 vacancies on the job bank.  The province has an established pilot project offering Canadian permanent residence. Click here for more.

Manitoba

Officials from the Manitoba PNP recently held a series of information sessions in Vienna, Austria, where long-haul truck drivers, transportation managers and heavy machinery mechanics represented three of the five occupations being sought.  The province has an established pilot project offering Canadian permanent residence.  Click here for more.

Prince Edward Island

The Prince Edward Island PNP is currently operating a pilot critical worker stream, with truck drivers one of only five professions being sought for fast-track immigration to Canada’s smallest province. Click here for more.

Newfoundland & Labrador

In Newfoundland & Labrador, the Labour Market Outlook 2025 report identifies truck driving as an occupation that will require significant immigration in order to fulfil job vacancy demand. Click here for more.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan does not specifically highlight truck drivers as an in-demand occupation, but it does single out heavy machinery mechanics and truck and bus mechanics. The province has an established pilot project offering Canadian permanent residence. Click here for more.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia does not list truck drivers as a specific in-demand occupation. For more on the Nova Scotia immigration, click here.

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Truck Driver Wages and Duties

Hourly wages for truck drivers are currently competitive with the both national and provincial averages.

According to job bank and Statistics Canada data, the median wage is slightly below the national average, although it can rise to more than $8 above that average to $32 an hour in many cases.

As labour market demand increases, as is expected over the coming years, wages for truck drivers are likely to rise.

Truck Driver Hourly Wages in Numbers

	Low	Median	High	Average hourly wage all occupations
Canada	14	20.4	32	23.26
Alberta	18	26	39	26.83
British Columbia	15	24.95	35.14	23.27
Manitoba	13	20	29	21.74
New Brunswick	12.5	17.26	27	20.56
Newfoundland and Labrador	13.5	20	35	23.74
Nova Scotia	12.82	18	25.64	20.97
Ontario	13	20	29	22.73
Prince Edward Island	12	16.5	27	19.03
Québec	13.5	18.6	26.67	22.48
Saskatchewan	15.38	23.63	35	24.96

Source: www.jobbank.gc.ca and Statistics Canada

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Typical Truck Driver Duties

• Operate and drive straight or articulated trucks, weighing over 4600 kg with three or more axles to transport goods and material to destinations
• Oversee all aspects of vehicles, such as condition of equipment, loading and unloading, and safety and security of cargo
• Perform pre-trip inspection of vehicle systems and equipment such as tires, lights, brakes and cold storage
• Perform emergency roadside repairs
• Obtain special permits and other documents required to transport cargo on international routes
• Record cargo information, distance travelled, fuel consumption and other information in log book or on on-board computer
• Communicate with dispatcher and other drivers using citizens’ band (CB) radio, cellular telephone and on-board computer
• May drive as part of a two-person team or convoy
• May transport hazardous products or dangerous goods.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Currently, the primary avenue for trucking companies to hire workers from overseas is through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).  Qualified applicants receive a Canada visa and depending on the province, can transition to an immigration visa or Canadian permanent residence.

To take the temporary worker route, an employer must first seek a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).  

What this means for employers

Employers are encouraged to consider securing an LMIA or nomination under PNPs to ensure long term retention of employees.

Canadian employers can access unparalleled immigration legal services and help with recruitment of foreign workers through our in-house enterprise Global Recruiters of Montreal.

Employers are assisted under a fixed fee basis for both recruitment and immigration services. Approved candidates are brought to Canada in the shortest time possible. Employers can directly benefit from one of Canada’s leading online immigration firms to meet both their recruitment and immigration requirements.

Interested employers wishing to seek assistance are invited to contact us here for further information.

What this means for candidates

If you are an immigrant looking to come to Canada on a temporary work permit, you can follow a step by step guide here.

Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free online evaluation. We will provide you with an evaluation within 1-2 business days.

Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.

Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.