Career Path

[Rook]

Hi all, this is a great forum and I've sifted through several posts but none answer my question specifically...unless I missed one or two somewhere. Hopefully someone can enlighten me.

I currently hold a job as a long distance delivery driver in Ontario, usually using a van or 24' truck and lately I've been thinking of a career in trucking.

Basically my question is where do I start? I can't afford truck driving school nor can I afford to take a lot of time off from work with my mortgage and bills etc.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[MrMeaner]

Have you been unemployed in the last 3 years?

If so the first thing I would do is check with your local EI office and see if they offer assistance for someone in your position. Two years ago I went through EI to obtain my AZ license. Although I was unemployed at the time I do remember them saying they offered assistance to help with upgrading skills to people who have been unemployed in the last 3 years. So at that time you didn't have to be on unemployment it just depended on your situation.

Also check with any employment services in your area. They may be able to help financially or recommend someone.

I don't know what part of Canada your in but from what I hear Schneider National now trains new drivers in Canada (Aberfoyle-Guelph Ontario) who don't have a license. But there is a 18 month employment contract you need to sign. If you quit before the 18 months you have to repay them for the training.

Check with a few local trucking companies and see if they can recommend something. Sometimes if you can get a letter of intent to hire, it can make getting funding a lot easier

[bikerboy]

If you don't have money for school, the only thing i can think of is, getting a job with a company that has trucks, but also has workers that don't drive.
Like a constructino company that runs crushers and loaders and earthmovers, and also has dump trucks, a place like that will usually let guys use their trucks to practice with and to get licence after they have worked there awhile doing another job, and want to drive trucks.

I have worked at a place like that, and have seen guys get their licence that way.

I also got my licence without school, but did it using a friends truck, who is a farmer, he let me drive the truck to practice and also let me use his truck and trailer for my roadtest.

so there is ways to get a AZ licence cheap, you just gotta know people who will let you use there truck to practice and use for test.

[Daycab]

I'm not sure if you still can, but you usedtacould get a student line of credit to cover the tuition. Also, if you're of Aboriginal background, there is funding available. Check in with some of the schools. The larger ones should know where to find the dough because if they can point you towards funding, chances are it'll go into their pocket.

[Drifter]

Rook we have had a few drivers upgrade by getting the co to allow them to practice in our yard under the supervision of the shunt driver may work if your pres. co. is big enough.

[Jules]

Career path advice?

Stay away! Far, far away from the trucking industry!

Go to school and learn a trade or something...

[Franx]

When I went through school in 97 I had a full time job and got a line of credit to up grade from a D. I went up during the week for road training and booked my weekends off for the in class.

[maan]

I had ~ 5 years of 5 ton experience at the time (~ 10 years ago). Found the cheapest school/price to get an AZ & was a tad over 300 bucks.

Forget exactly but total time was ~ 5hrs

Passed the ministry driver test.

Wasn't anywhere near ready for the job when it came, but winged it.

Thinking back on it now, i'd call it the ..desperado approach & certainly not recommending it.

But, to each his own..

Probably my prior 5 ton time helped in the transition.