All You Need to know About Truck Driver Jobs in Canada

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Truck drivers are not everywhere in Canada. They are potentially needed by many companies to carry out their services i.e delivering their goods and raw materials to customers. They travel far and long, near and short, to move goods from one place to another different transportation medium i.e semi truck, box truck, dump truck, etc. Truck drivers work in several industries like manufacturing, mining and more in the transportation sector. Truck drivers are responsible for moving goods from the main distribution to the last consumer or retailers. In this article, we will provide you with all the information you need to know about truck drivers in Canada.

Types of truck drivers in Canada

There are two main types of truck drivers in Canada, which are:

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  1. Long-haul drivers: are this type of driver that moves goods from one province to another province across the country.
  2. Regional drivers: are the type of driver that transports goods only within the province and not in a long distance.

Truck driver Job Review in 2025

  • Country: Canada
  • Job position: Truck drivers
  • Salary structure Annually: $48,000 – $67,000
  • Employment level: Usually at the entry-level and senior-executive level.
  • Worksite environment: Applicants will be working within the country but in outdoor format.

The eligibility criteria and requirements for a Truck Driver Job in 2025

To become a truck driver in Canada; you must be able to fulfill the following the requirements:

  1. Age: You must be above 18 years and above
  2. Drivers’ license: You must possess your driver license to drive around the country.
  3. Medical test: You must submit a recent medical test that fully shows that you are medically fit for this job and you did not possess a medical condition that could endanger the life of others and likewise the job did not pose a threat to your health.
  4. Vision: You must have good eye vision to drive comfortably during the morning, afternoon and night shift.
  5. Knowledge test: You must be able to pass this specific test especially, because it is to test your knowledge about trucks and how much you know about trucks.
  6. Road test: You must pass the road test before being certified as a truck driver in the country.

The Duties, Responsibilities and Roles of a Truck Driver in Canada

Truck drivers in  Canada are in charge of many duties and responsibilities, which include:

  1. Transportation: Truck drivers move from one place to another, distributing goods and raw materials from the manufacturing site to the retailers or final destination.
  2. Loading and unloading goods: They help the retailers to unload the goods from the truck to their shop.
  3. Delivering: they deliver goods from one place to another and make sure the goods reach the clients/customers.
  4. Following Instructions:  A truck driver must follow all the instructions laid out for his transportation including the road maps and driving instructions.
  5. Inspection: It is best that you check the truck before early morning departure to check for any faulty sides of the truck.
  6. Safe driving: You must drive safely by putting on personal protective equipment like gloves, head gears, etc.
  7. Route Planning: Truck drivers are usually responsible for sketching out their routes from the departure point to the destination point. For you to be able to plan your route, you must have a deeper knowledge of the road traffic rules and regulations, road mapping, and road discipline.
  8. Vehicle maintenance: Truck drivers are in charge of all the maintenance activities, route checkups, oil checking, etc. Proper vehicle maintenance will keep the truck in good condition and will always help you as a driver to have a successful and safe drive.

Skills of a Truck driver in Canada 

You must possess some major skills to prosper as a truck driver in the country. These skills will complement your ability as a truck driver and increase your chance of success in this field, these include:

  1. Time management: As a truck driver in Canada, you must have a good time management ability  to prosper in this field. You must be able to meet the deadlines set by the customer/client to improve trust and integrity between you and the customer. Good time management will increase your chance of success in the field.
  2. Work Independence: Truck drivers are usually alone for a long time on the road and can make several decisions on the road without intervention. You must be able to work independently and act accordingly to increase self confidence, self esteem and independence. With these skills, they can work alone and display their ability very swiftly.
  3. Mechanical Knowledge: You must have an understanding of how your truck works, the engine and the acts of maintenance to maintain the truck. These simple skills will help while you are on the road to solve minor repairs, tire changes. Etc.
  4. Physical Stamina and strength: A truck driver job requires you to have a strong physical stamina and a lot of strength to withstand the pressure of the job and be able to work for long hours.
  5. Navigation: You must be able to read the city map, use a GPS, and find your route to your destination. There are other applications to check for navigating your way to the right location, which include; a GPS or navigation app. These apps provide a preview on weather conditions, road traffics, accidents and road conditions.  

Work Without Work Permit in Canada in 2025

How to Apply for a Truck Driver Job in Canada

Applying for a truck driver position in Canada involves quite a lot of steps which must duly followed to successfully land a job. These steps include the stages of application and tips for success. Here are the steps involved in the application process:

Step 1: Job search and research

We now live in a technology world, you don’t need to go to the Canadian embassy before you process your application. You can apply for any type of job online and secure your position via online application. Job application begins from job search and research i.e you find the best suitable for you according to your qualifications and abilities. You can find truck driver jobs via many canada online job portals. These online job portals include:  Indeed, Glassdoor, workopolis  etc.

Step 2: Check your eligibility

A truck driver job requires you to possess some skills, qualifications, and requirements by the canada government and your employer. These include academic qualifications, driver’s licence, ID passport, etc. You must have all of these requirements to process your jib application. If you did not have a truck driving license yet, you may have to attend a driving school for some months before resuming. After due training,you can then apply for your truck driving license which requires either a D license or class 3 to be eligible to work as a truck driver.   

Step 3: Update your resume and cover letter

You must work on updating your resume and cover letter. With your resume, you can start working on updating your resume, by engaging in some necessary training and seminar to earn a quality certificate and improve your chances in the job application. In your cover letter, you must be able to convince your employer in your letter, by informing on how you can fit into the roles with your qualifications and experience. You must also be able to do well in your job description and achieve all the milestones set by your employer.

Step 4: Submitting your application

Before you finally submit your application, you need to check all the information and documents you have submitted. You should look for errors, misspellings, submission errors, etc to make sure your application is perfect and no mistakes are found in your application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What is the working environment of a truck driver like in Canada?

Truck drivers usually work in an outdoor environment and are always on the road alone for long hours, transporting goods from one place to the other. They do not have a fixed working schedule and work on call at least 40 hours per week. They work more during the night, day and midnight. Nowadays, trucks can easily communicate with managers with a CB radio when they are on the road.

  • Where Can I Work as a Truck Driver in Canada?

You can work as a Truck driver in Canada in construction industries, agriculture, factories, etc.

  • What type of vehicles can I drive with a full class A license with air brake endorsement?

If you have a full class A driver license, you can drive the following vehicles:

  1. Any Heavy trucks under class D license
  2. Any car or light under Class G licence
  3. Vehicle pulling double trailers
  4. Combined vehicles
  • What are the tips for success in a truck driving profession?

These are the tips for success in this profession:

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  1.   Studying truck driving manuals: If you want to be successful in this field, you must study all the truck driving manuals in your province and study very well to the best of your ability.
  2. Talk with your senior colleagues: It is recommended that you seek professional advice from your senior colleagues for how to be successful and stay disciplined in this profession. Their advice will really help you a lot since the knowledge was from  the depth of their experience in the profession.