How Can a Canadian Truck Driver Work in the US?

The US and Canada share the world's longest international border, meaning a lot of commerce is exchanged between the two countries.

Due to their proximity, many US and Canadian truck drivers cross the border to transport goods. Both countries trade goods and services worth more than $2 billion daily!

If you're a Canadian truck driver interested in working in the United States, this article has the information you need.

10 Easy Steps to Drive Your Truck in the US

It is legal for Canadian truck drivers to work in the United States, provided they follow protocol when entering and leaving the country. They must also refrain from performing domestic work while in the US.

As a commercial truck driver from Canada, you'll need a visa to work and live in the US. Several consultants/lawyers suggest an H2B non-immigrant visa.

This type of visa is only temporary and allows you to work for less than a year at a time; however, it can sometimes be extended for up to three years. It's also meant for temporary or seasonal non-agricultural jobs with a labour shortage (such as trucking in the US and Canada).

Step 1. Apply for temporary labour certification from the US Department of Labor with an employer who wants you to work there.

Step 2. When the employer files form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) with USCIS, it must show that the job is temporary and there are no American workers available.

Step 3. Once your employer's Petition for Nonimmigrant Workers is approved, you can apply for an H2B visa and attend an interview at the nearest US consulate. However, Forbes magazine reported that truck drivers from Canada could skip this step and cross the border.

Step 4. Upon expiration of your H2B visa, you must return to Canada for a minimum of 3 months and repeat the process if you want to return.

When you receive your visa and work in the US, you will need to:

Step 5. Take a truck driver training course; Step 6. Enroll in a CDL Learners Permit Application online; Step 7. Take the CDL General Knowledge Test Step 8. Do on-road and classroom training for up to 300 hours Step 9. Pass the final CDL exam (inspection of vehicles, basic controls test, road test, endorsements) and get your CDL. Step 10. Take the job you've been offered or start working.

Generally, continuing to live in Canada and pursuing cross-border jobs that pay well is preferable. The other option is to get a visa (similar to a PR card in Canada but less likely to succeed) and acquire your US CDL.

You can also apply for EB-3 employment-based permanent residency, but it takes longer and is more expensive.

What You Need to Know About H-2B Visas

The H-2B visa allows US companies to hire commercial truck drivers from abroad. Through its visa program, US employers can hire workers who are willing and able to perform non-agricultural labour when they experience difficulties finding workers.

Employers can also hire foreign workers temporarily for nine to twelve months. If needed, this can be extended for up to three years.

Sponsoring a worker for H-2B requires a labour certification from the Department of Labor (DOL). It requires getting a prevailing wage determination from the DOL about how much the worker should make and advertising the H-2B position according to DOL rules.

The employer should say what need the job fills to show that it is only temporary. According to the DOL, there are four options: one-time, seasonal, peak load, and intermittent.

As soon as the DOL issues the labour certification, US employers must petition US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A major benefit of the H-2B visa is that a single petition can cover multiple workers.

Before starting working in the US, the chosen workers must go to their nearest US consulate to get visa stamps after their petition is approved.

Transporting Goods Between Canada and US

The trade between the US and Canada opens up more job opportunities for Canadian drivers. This way, they can work wherever the best rates are, giving them more work and better pay.

When you haul goods across the border from Canada to the US, you also can earn higher freight rates than when you transport goods domestically within Canada.

Typically, the cost of trucking in Canada can be significantly higher than in the United States due to the higher fuel cost. You will also likely need repairs since many big trucks are built in the United States, making their parts cheaper to buy if you're in the US.

Requirements for Crossing the Border

Truck drivers from Canada who enter the border into the US qualify as business visitors — B-1 classification — without a visa or passport. However, [Customs and Border Protection CBP will require the following documents and identification before granting entry:

• Valid Photo ID
• Bill of Lading
• Commercial Invoice
• Proof of Delivery
• Certificate of Origin

Through FAST (Free and Secure Trade), drivers can speed up this process by pre-screening low-risk shipments.

The importers you're working with may have hired customs brokers who can help with this process by working with CBP. They'll arrange everything and prepare the paperwork for your crossing.

How to Get a Job as a Truck Driver in Canada?

Getting your commercial driver's license (CDL) in the US requires retaking the written and on-road exams. In Canada, the same probably goes.

This is because state-level regulations for transport licensing differ from state to state in the US and Canada. But remember, your experience of truck driving and similar exams give you a huge advantage.

Exchange Currency with RemitBee

As a truck driver, you know that the open road can take you to all sorts of places. Whether delivering goods across state lines or travelling for pleasure, you never know when you'll need currency exchange. That's where RemitBee comes in.

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