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.  

 

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!

What Are the Different Types of Truck Driver Jobs?

Are you interested in starting a career in truck driving? It’s a lucrative career path that offers job security and growth, but not all commercial driving jobs are the same. There are many different types of truck drivers, each with its own benefits and skill requirements. Our driver recruitment experts at Nova Driver Services explain them all.

 

Truck Type

When looking at different types of commercial truck driving jobs, there are two things to consider- the type of truck you’ll be driving and the distance. Let’s take a look at the different types of commercial trucks you could be driving.

 

Dry Van 

Dry van trucks are where people starting out in the industry begin. “Dry van” is a common nickname for the rectangular trailers hauled by semi-trucks. Chances are you’ve seen these driving on the highway before. This type of truck is a large, single-trailer vehicle containing non-perishable products and dry goods.

 

Flatbed

You’ve probably seen a flatbed truck on the road before. As the name implies, this type of truck has a flat trailer that is open air. This type of truck is used to carry dry products or machinery that may be too big or awkward to fit in a dry van trailer. Flatbed truck drivers will have to become experts at tying down oddly shaped objects. This type of driver tends to make more due to the awkwardly sized goods they carry.

 

Freight

Freight hauling is a bit of a catch-all job that covers all cargo that isn’t housed under the umbrella of dry van hauling. Freight trucks transport things like liquids, oversized loads, and hazardous goods. Because the goods being hauled by freight trucks are usually more specialized, you may need extra training and certification to land these jobs, but they do tend to pay more!

 

Tanker

Tanker truck drivers are highly sought after and some of the best paid. Tanker trucks are used to transport liquids, which can either be hazardous, like oil or non-hazardous, like water. Tanker drivers have to know how to handle their trucks masterfully since the fluid can shift during the trip.

 

Refrigerated

Refrigerated trucks, or refers as they’re often called, are temperature-controlled trailers. They’re used to transport goods that have to remain at a certain temperature, such as frozen items, perishable goods, and medication. Refer drivers have to know how to check and set the temperature of their trailer, so they tend to get paid more than dry haulers.

 

LTL 

LTL, or Less-Than-Truckload, is a popular type of commercial driver job. LTL drivers carry smaller than normal shipments. This type of job is usually shorter distances or goods that couldn’t fit in one vehicle. LTL drivers make less, but they can do more loads daily. LTL drivers tend to have to load and unload their own freight.

 

Auto

Auto haulers are trucks specifically designed to carry automobiles. Auto haulers transport cars from one place to another, usually delivering new cars from the factory to dealerships. If you’ve ever seen a truck full of shiny new cars on the road, you’ve seen an auto-hauler. This type of truck can be very heavy, requiring specifically trained drivers. This also means if you’re qualified for it, you’ll make more money than the average commercial driver!

 

Distance

In addition to different types of trucks, commercial drivers can also take on different lengths of routes. The longer the driver, the more money you’ll make usually. Here is a look at the most common types of distance classifications you’ll get to pick from.

 

Long-Haul

If you hear “trucker” and picture someone that spends weeks on the road, you’re probably picturing a long-haul truck driver. As the name implies, long-haul truck drivers make trips that can take weeks. Long-haul truckers usually have special cabs with beds and kitchenettes, almost like a little home on wheels. These types of jobs make more money, but they do require you to be away from home for chunks of time.

 

Local/Regional

Local or regional drivers stay within a certain area. Local drivers typically only work in one city, while regional drivers may work in an entire state/province. How much you get paid depends on the type of load and how far you’re going.

 

Last-Mile

Due to e-commerce, last-mile delivery has exploded in recent years. Last-mile drivers are in high demand these days. This type of truck driver is what Amazon used to deliver your packages from their local facility to your home. Last-mile drivers tend to make multiple stops and usually make smaller deliveries.

 

Cross-Border

Cross-border trucking is when drivers have to cross a country’s border to make a delivery. In North America, cross-border trucking is usually between Canada and the U.S. and the U.S. and Mexico. Cross-border trucking jobs usually require more extensive background checks to ensure you can pass through the border but tend to make more money. Depending on how far across the border you’re going, these jobs can either be long-haul or just day trips.

 

Are you ready to start a lucrative career as a professional truck driver? Our driver recruitment team is here to help! Visit our online job board or contact us to learn more about open positions.