The Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Truck Driver In Ontario

If you like to drive, truck driving is an easy-to-get-into, in-demand job that gives you a lot of options. It can be profitable for those who enjoy the thrills of the open road.

Ontario is one of the best places to be a truck driver, as it supports endless trade and commerce.

If you are interested in pursuing this exciting career as a profession, or just a job on the side, then continue reading on.

This guide is going to cover how you can become a truck driver in Ontario. Let's begin.

Overview of Class A License In most states, you need a different license for each type of vehicle you drive. Class A, B, C, and D licenses are common groups.

If you plan to drive a commercial truck, you will need a Class A. With a full Class A license, drivers can drive the following:

• Combination of truck and trailer
• Motor vehicle and towed automobile combination with towed cars weighing more than 4600 kg and air brakes
• Vehicles that pull two trailers
• Cars covered by the Class G license
• Trucks classified as heavy class D
• Class A vehicles with restrictions

However, truckers with a full Class A license cannot operate buses with passengers, mopeds, or motorcycles.

Eligibility and Requirements

The government sets most of the requirements for getting a Class AZ license, which is the best choice for professional truck drivers.

Below are the requirements steps you need to take to get started:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Have a grade 10 education in Ontario or an equivalent qualification
• Currently hold a valid full G driver's license (excludes training and motorcycle licenses)
• Must be able to pass a vision test, wearing corrective eyewear if necessary
• Pass a medical exam (as you may not be eligible if you suffer from certain medical conditions that could cause you problems.)

You can enroll in an Ontario trucking school if you meet these requirements. Training is another factor to consider.

To get your Class 1/A license, you must undergo extensive training at an accredited school or business. For Ontario (as of 2022), this will require a minimum of 103.5 training hours.

The breakdown is as follows:

• A total of 36.5 hours in the classroom
• A 17-hour training session in a yard, away from actual roads
• At least 50 hours of instructor-led on-road experience

Before taking the Ontario Drive test, there will be 6 hours of classroom training and 2 hours in the yard.

Once you finish training at the Ontario truck driver school of your choice, you're almost done. Your learning will be a success if you pass both the written and road tests.

If you pass, congrats! You'll have your Class AZ license and be fully qualified to drive a truck in a few weeks.

How do DZ Licenses and AZ Licenses differ?

First, you should know that the "Z" on your license means you've been trained and certified in air brakes, which are common in almost all heavy commercial vehicles.

AZ licenses are upgraded versions of DZ licenses. It gives you flexibility because there are no limits on how much you can haul, unlike a DZ license, which only lets you haul up to 4,600 kg.

People with a DZ license can drive vehicles weighing more than 11,000 kg or tractor-trailers weighing less than 4,600 kg.

You can drive fire and rescue vehicles, dump trucks, straight trucks, and cement trucks with a DZ license. You can also operate commercial trucks as long as you don't exceed the weight limit.

While AZ licenses are certainly better than DZ licenses, the DZ variation is also worth considering. With this driver's license, you will have the opportunity to drive both construction and transportation vehicles, allowing you to find work during wintertime and the construction season.

It's also considerably cheaper than getting an AZ license. Therefore, new truck drivers might consider getting a DZ license first and then working up to an AZ license.

Truck Driving Careers in Demand in Ontario

The Government of Canada anticipates a high demand for truck drivers in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island in the coming years. The Canadian government also estimates that 96,600 new job seekers, including recent graduates and immigrants, will be available to fill the vacancies.

Because of this shortage, it will be easier for new truck drivers for hire to find jobs. New drivers won't take long to earn good money, gain experience, and put their licenses to good use!

There are currently 55,600 open truck driver jobs in Canada. The labour supply forecast says that between 2019 and 2023, about 36,000 people will retire, and another 136,600 will leave their jobs for other reasons.

It is necessary to provide more support and programming to the trucking and logistics sector to facilitate economic recovery in Canada.

Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship of Canada confirmed that truck drivers would soon be eligible to participate in Express Entry following the implementation of the new NOC codes

On November 16, new NOC codes will go into effect. One of these codes is for drivers of transport trucks. The new system will change the class of jobs from semi-skilled to skilled.

Is it possible for a foreigner to become a truck driver in Ontario?

The best course of action is to secure a job offer and finalize your Visa application with the help of a PNP.

Due to Canada's expanding economy, particularly in Ontario, truck drivers worldwide have almost unlimited opportunities to join the Canadian workforce as truck drivers.

The job market shows that this role will be needed for a while, so if you stay in the pool of applicants and have the right experience, you'll have a better chance of getting the job!

The Bottom Line

Aside from the basics, getting good training is a crucial part of becoming a truck driver. An accredited driver training facility provides the best training available.

Learning "real-life" skills is also essential. These things add up to make a skilled and qualified truck driver.

Once you are a truck driver in Canada, you may need to exchange Canadian and US dollars. Try RemitBee currency exchange for a completely online experience, the best rates and secure exchanges!