Why You Should Become a Long-Haul Truck Driver

Trucking is an industry that offers tons of career opportunities and growth. One of the most sought-after types of commercial drivers is for long-haul routes. Long-haul truck driving is a challenging but rewarding career that can offer many benefits. Here are some reasons you should consider becoming a long-haul truck driver, according to our recruitment experts at Nova Driver Services.

 

Competitive Pay

It often surprises people how much money they can make as a commercial driver, especially as a long-haul trucker. Long-haul truck drivers can earn a competitive salary, with many drivers earning over $50,000 per year. Some companies also offer bonuses for safe driving or other performance metrics, which can increase your earning potential even more.

 

Job Security

The trucking industry is always looking for qualified drivers. The demand for long-haul truckers is high, and the industry is projected to grow in the coming years. This means that there are plenty of job opportunities available, especially if you are efficient and experienced. You’ll be able to enjoy job security and stability throughout your career.

 

Travel Opportunities

One of the biggest perks of becoming a long-haul driver is that it allows you to travel across the country and see new places. You’ll get the opportunity to explore different regions, meet new people, and experience the unique cultures of different areas. So if you have the travel bug but also want a stable career, trucking might be the right fit for you!

 

Independence and Flexibility

If the thought of being micromanaged by your boss sounds terrible, the independence and flexibility of being a long-haul truck driver might appeal to you. Long-haul routes do require commitment and time away from home, but experienced drivers get a lot of independence in making their schedules and selecting their routes. You also have the benefit of working without someone watching you at every moment.

 

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, trucking fleets also offer their drivers benefit packages. These benefits can include medical, dental, and vision insurance and retirement benefits. This can provide peace of mind and help you stay healthy and productive on the job and feel set for your life after you’re done working.

 

Quick Career

You’ll be hard-pressed to find another career that offers such great pay and benefits without needing a high-education degree. Starting a career in trucking is easier than you’d think. You can get started with very few steps and start making great money right away.

 

If you’re interested in starting a career as a long-haul trucker or are looking for new trucking jobs, check out our online job board or contact us today! Our hiring experts at Nova Driver Services work with some of Canada’s top companies and trucking fleets and are ready to help you find your next position.

 

Requirements for Becoming a Commercial Truck Driver in Ontario

Becoming a commercial truck driver in Ontario is a great career choice and will open many lucrative opportunities. Trucking is an essential industry in Canada; however, it is also heavily regulated, and those interested in joining must meet specific requirements. Nova Driver Services is one of the top driver recruitment agencies in the province, and one of the first things we do when we get a new applicant is to see if they meet the following criteria.

 

Age Requirements

To become a commercial truck driver in Ontario, you must be at least 18 years old. This is the minimum age requirement, but if you are interested in higher-paying trucker positions, such as cross-border trucking jobs, fleets tend to prefer drivers with a bit more experience. The good news is that there are no maximum age restrictions for drivers in Canada.

 

Medical Requirements

All drivers must pass a vision, wearing corrective eyewear, such as glasses or contact lenses, if necessary. You will also need to pass a medical exam. Unfortunately, you may not be eligible if you suffer from some medical conditions that could cause problems on the job.

 

Education Requirements

The great thing about trucking is that, unlike other lucrative career paths, you do not need higher education to land a job. In Ontario, drivers only need to prove they have a Grade 10 (or equivalent) education. However, some fleets do ask for a high school diploma (or equivalent).

 

Besides a basic high school education, interested drivers must also enroll in an accredited truck training school or program, which usually takes around three months. This is where you will get all the required training hours needed in order to take the Ontario Class 1 Drive test, which will earn you an A license.

 

License Requirements

To get hired as a commercial trucker, you will need a class A or D license, with most fleets requiring an A license. To get these, you will first need a full G license in Ontario. You will get all the training, hours, and knowledge needed to get an A license during the entry-level training course. After that, you can take the official test.

 

Record Requirements

Trucking is a heavily regulated industry, meaning drivers must undergo a record and background check before getting hired. You will need a clean driving record, and most fleets want a clear criminal record as well, especially if you are looking at cross-border jobs. A criminal record doesn’t mean you can’t become a commercial trucker; you just won’t qualify for every job.

 

If you want to learn more about becoming a commercial truck driver, contact Nova Staffing today. If you already have all the requirements and are just looking for an exciting opportunity, check out our online trucker job board.  

 

What is a Shunt Driver?

The trucking and transportation industry is a vital part of the global supply chain and is a lucrative career for those interested. There is more than one type of commercial truck driver job, and every kind of job has its own requirements. Particular truck driving jobs require special licenses, skills, training, or experience.

 

To help you understand each type of truck driver job, our commercial driver recruitment agency will break them down. Today, let’s look at shunt drivers.

 

What is a shunt driver?

A shunt driver is responsible for the movement of vehicles on a construction site. This could include trailer units or larger goods vehicles. The job could be maneuvering goods around a job site, into storage or loading bays, or to be picked up by other workers. Essentially, a shunt is responsible for moving LGVs and trailers to designated spots around a construction yard so the work can get done as needed. Since construction sites are often heavily populated, have expensive equipment, and have tight deadlines, shunters are highly valuable.

 

How much does a shunt driver earn?

Like most trucking jobs, how much a driver earns depends on skills, experience, and region. In Ontario, shunters earn around $45K. However, newer drivers can expect to earn lower until they build up their experience.

 

Do shunt drivers need a special license?

Depending on the job and employer, a shunt position may require applicable licenses to operate the equipment necessary to move trailers. This could include needing a class D, A, or Z license. Most commercial trucking jobs will require one of these licenses, so investing in training and special licenses will open up doors for multiple commercial truck driver jobs.

 

What does a shunt driver do?

As a shunt, you’ll have two primary duties- preparing trailers for moving and driving or “shunting” the trailers. Preparing the trailers would involve yard checks, attaching the trailers, checking locked trailers, and completing any necessary forms. Moving the trailers involves driving, some administrative work, and communicating with the warehouse and dispatchers.

 

What skills does a shunt driver need?

In addition to having the required driving experience and license, shunts must also know how to communicate and work well with others. A construction site has many moving parts, and shunts will need to work with others to ensure everything is being done correctly. Paying attention to details and staying calm in stressful situations is also highly valued, as job sites can sometimes be busy and tense.

 

How does one get a shunt driver job?

If you’re interested in becoming a shunt driver, you can contact Nova Driver Services today! Our team of hiring experts is ready to help find you the perfect commercial driver position. You can also check out our online job board to see all of our open truck driver roles. 

 

3 Skillsets Driver Recruitment Agencies Look for in Hires

Commercial trucking is a highly lucrative career path. Trucking is an integral part of the global supply chain, and drivers are in high demand right now. This means that truck drivers are experiencing job security and pay rates like never before. While driving is a crucial part of the job, it’s not the only skill set our employment experts at Nova Driver Services are looking for when hiring new candidates. Here are some skillsets that driver recruitment agencies look for and that you should hone to stand out from the competition.

 

Reliability

It cannot be understated how vital trucking is in the global supply chain. In fact, around 90% of all goods in Canada are delivered by truck. Even goods shipped by rail, air, or sea are eventually moved to their final destinations by trucks. Given how much the transportation of goods, and the economy by extension, relies on trucks, trucking fleets only want to hire candidates they can rely on. This means being there when you said you would and doing what you’re supposed to. Drivers aren’t sitting at a desk under the watchful eye of a manager. There is a degree of independence and responsibility with the job, which is why reliability is so important.

 

Organization

Many driver candidates are surprised when our hiring experts ask about skills such as time management and organization. After all, don’t drivers just drive? Not really. Driving is, of course, a huge part of the job. But drivers are also responsible for keeping track of everything they’re transporting. There are lots of vital documents and pieces of information that commercial truck drivers have to keep organized. This includes applicable licenses, permits, inventories, invoices, paperwork, and more. Drivers also have to keep track of personal information such as hours worked, receipts for meals and fuel, and paperwork for repairs or maintenance on the vehicle. Many in the industry would argue that organization is the most important skill set to have.

 

Mechanics

One question our driver recruitment agency gets is, “do I need mechanical skills to be a commercial truck driver”? The answer is- yes and no. No fleet will expert their drivers to have all of the skills of a fully licensed and experienced mechanic. However, all truck drivers should have some basic mechanical knowledge of their trucks. Having some mechanical knowledge is helpful in emergency situations or with minor repairs so that you don’t have to wait for help. While some fleets don’t like drivers to work on the vehicles for liability reasons, it’s still crucial for commercial drivers to have enough mechanical knowledge to be able to identify and diagnose if there is an issue.

 

Are you interested in starting a lucrative career as a commercial truck driver? Contact Nova Driver Services today to talk with one of our driver recruitment experts, or check out our online job board!

Cross-Border Truck Driver Requirements

Are you interested in starting a lucrative career as a commercial driver? Truck drivers are in high demand right now, and the industry has a lot of opportunities. There are many different types of commercial truck driver jobs, but cross-border trucking is one of the most common ones we hire for at our driver recruitment agency. According to our driver hiring experts at Nova Driver Services, if you’re interested in becoming a cross-border trucker, here are all requirements you should know about.

 

What is Cross-Border Trucking?

As the name implies, cross-border trucking involves driving and delivering goods across the border. In Canada, this is usually just between the U.S.-Canada border, but occasionally drivers will go down and cross the U.S.-Mexico border as well.

 

Cross-border trucking can mean high-paying jobs; however, there are a few requirements you’ll need to meet in order to qualify for these gigs.

 

Immigration Requirements

Canadian trucks looking to complete deliveries in the U.S. must meet the general entry requirements for admission as a B-1 visitor. This means commercial cross-border drivers must:

  1. Have a residence in Canada, with no intention of abandoning it
  2. Intend to depart the U.S. at the end of their temporary admission
  3. Have the financial means to finish the job and make it out of the U.S.
  4. Establish that they are not inadmissible to the U.S., including for health reasons, criminal convictions, or previous immigration violations.

 

The last requirement is especially important. If you have any serious health issues, any past criminal convictions, especially in regards to violence, weapons, or drugs, and any previous immigration issues, you probably will not qualify for cross-border trucker jobs as there is a very real chance you will not be allowed to cross the U.S.-Canada border.

 

Document Requirements

Crossing the border as a commercial driver is different than driving through as a visitor, but drivers will still need to present certain documents. Canadian citizens entering the U.S. as drivers must present the following documents to be allowed entry:

  • One of the following pieces of ID:
  • A Canadian passport
  • An enhanced driver’s license or enhanced ID card
  • An enrollment card from a DHS trucked traveling program

 

Inspection Requirements

All trucks and drivers entering and leaving the U.S. are inspected by border patrol. Inspections may differ each time however, they may include a number of elements, including:

  • Document verification
  • X-ray of cargo
  • Cargo inspection

 

DOT Requirements

The trucking industry is one of the most heavily regulated. In order to keep drivers and the roads safe, the Canadian and U.S. governments have certain Hours of Service Rules. These are designed to ensure drivers are getting enough rest so that they can safely make their deliveries. All commercial drivers are required to keep a logbook of their hours, which may be reviewed when you cross the board. Commercial drivers will be instructed on how to properly keep track of their HoS so that they pass inspection.

 

Are you ready to hit the road as a cross-board trucker? Nova Driver Services is one of the top driver recruitment agencies in the GTA, and we’d be happy to help you find the right position. Contact us today to check out our online job board.

 

4 Reasons to Become a Commercial Driver

Are you looking to start a new career? Consider becoming a commercial truck driver! Drivers have a ton of job opportunities and are always highly sought after. At Nova Driver Services, we always have companies coming to us ready to offer competitive salaries and benefits to qualified drivers. Still not convinced? Here are just a few of the best reasons to become a commercial driver.

 

Job Security

Commercial drivers are a hot commodity. There has been a truck driver shortage for a few years now, which means that companies are willing to do a lot to secure and keep the best in the business. If you’re a qualified commercial driver with a clean record, you can rest easy knowing your job will be safe and that there will always be opportunities available to you.

 

Lucrative Career

People are often surprised to learn how much money commercial drivers can make. The average truck driver makes about $46,886 per year in Canada, with entry-level positions starting at around $39,000. This only goes up the longer you work, and many companies offer lucrative benefit packages as well. Salary will depend on the type of driver you are, what routes you drive, which company you work for, how experienced you are, and the load you haul.

 

Variety of Opportunities

When people hear commercial drivers, they often think of long-haul drivers that are on the road for weeks on time. There are actually a variety of commercial driver jobs available. There are many different routes, such as cross-border, last-mile, local, and regional routes. There are also different types of haul you can specialize in, such as dry bed, reefer trailers, auto haulers, tankers, flatbeds, or hazardous materials.

 

Quick Training 

Commercial driving doesn’t require any sort of extensive education or training. Most companies ask for a high school diploma at most. Those interested in this industry will need to have some kind of certification, though. Most commercial driver jobs require AZ or CZ licenses. Check out our complete guide to Ontario driver’s licenses to learn more.

 

Are you looking for work as a commercial driver? Contact us or check out our online job listings! Our team of hiring experts at Nova Staffing is ready to find you the perfect position.

 

Driver Recruitment Agency Explains Types of Driver’s Licences

Are you interested in starting a career as a commercial driver in Ontario? Commercial drivers are highly sought after and have a lot of room for career growth. Many commercial driver jobs require specific types of licences and certifications. Here is a quick breakdown of Ontario’s different driver’s licences by our driver recruitment experts at Nova Staffing Driver Services.

 

Class A

People with Class A licenses are allowed to drive any tractor-trailer combination. This means allows you to drive a motor vehicle and towed vehicles where the towed vehicle exceeds a total gross weight of 5,600 kg (10,000 lbs). You can also drive in Class D and G.

 

Class B

Those with Class B licenses are allowed to drive any school-purpose bus. You can drive school buses with seating for more than 24 passengers. You may also drive in Class C, D, E, F, and G.

 

Class C

Class C drivers are allowed to drive any regular, non-school bus with seating more than 24 passengers. This also allows you to drive Class D, F, and G vehicles.

 

Class D

Class D drivers can drive motor vehicles exceeding 11,000 kg gross weight or registered gross weight, or any truck or combination provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg. You may also drive in Class G.

 

Class E

Those with class E licenses can drive any school purposes bus with a maximum capacity of 24 passengers. You may also drive in Class F and G.

 

Class F

Class F drivers can drive any regular, non-school bus, with a maximum capacity of 24-passengers. This includes a 15-passenger van and an ambulance. You can also drive in Class G.  

 

Class G

Class G is the standard licence for Ontario drivers. Those with a G license can drive any car, van, or small truck, or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg, provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.

 

The G class has three levels:

  • G1: Level One of graduated licensing. G1 drivers can drive G Class vehicles with a fully licensed driver with at least four years of driving experience. Some conditions apply.
  • G2: Level Two of graduated licensing. G2 drivers can drive Class G vehicles without an accompanied driver but are subject to certain conditions.
  • G: A full G driver can drive any G Class vehicle without an accompanied driver or restrictions.

 

Class M

Class M drivers are allowed to drive any motorcycles, including motor tricycles, motor scooters, or mopeds. There are different levels and types of M licenses.

  • M1: Level One of graduated licensing for Class M. May drive a motorcycle under certain conditions.
  • M2: Level Two of graduated licensing for Class M. May drive a motorcycle with zero blood alcohol level.
  • Class M with L condition: Can operate a limited-speed motorcycle (motor scooter) or moped only.
  • Class M2 with L condition: Can operate a limited-speed motorcycle or moped only
  • Class M with M condition: Holders can operate a motor tricycle only
  • Class M2 with M condition: Holders can operate a motor tricycle only

 

Z Endorsement

A “Z” endorsement, or Z license, allows you to drive a vehicle fitted with an air brake system or an air-over-hydraulic brake system. There is extra testing required for this. Many commercial driver jobs require a Z endorsement as well as other class licenses.

 

Looking for a commercial driver job or looking to hire commercial drivers? Contact Nova Driver Services today. Our team of driver recruitment experts are here to help!