When to Renew Your Driving Documents

The transportation industry has tons of amazing career opportunities. In order to access them, you’ll have to have the necessary driving documents. Thankfully all you usually need is a record of driving training and the correct commercial driver’s license. While these aren’t too challenging to get, don’t make the mistake of letting them lapse. Our driver recruitment experts at Nova Staffing explain how often you need to renew all your driving documents so that you can keep on trucking!

 

Standard Driver’s License

Some transportation jobs just require a basic Ontario driver’s license. In this province, your license is valid for 5 years. After that time, you’ll have to renew it online or at a ServiceOntario centre. If you don’t renew before it expires, you may have to start the graduating system over again if you don’t have your full G yet or pay a fee to get a new one.

 

Commercial Driver’s License

Most commercial trucking jobs in Ontario require a special class of license, such as Class A, B, C, D, E, or F. These allow you to try specialty vehicles like tankers, semi-trucks, buses, and more. You will get a notice 90 days before your license expires in Ontario, either via e-mail or mail. Most licenses last five years before needing to be renewed.

 

Drivers under 80 with a class A, B, C, E, or F, and drivers over the age of 65 with a Class D license are required to pass a vision and knowledge test in order to renew their license. Class D drivers under the age of 65 are required to pass a vision and knowledge test to renew their license. Depending on their age, some commercial-class license holders will be required to periodically submit a medical report to maintain their license. Failure to do so will result in them being downgraded to a Class G license.  

 

How to Renew Commercial Driver’s License?

Unlike standard G-class driver’s licenses, commercial-class licenses cannot be renewed online at this time. If you are not required to take any tests, you must renew your commercial license in person at any ServiceOntario centre.

 

Take the form to any centre in the province. You will be asked to sign the form, show identification, pay a fee, and have a new photograph taken. You will get a temporary license on the spot, and a permanent one will be mailed to you. Carry the temporary one with you until the permanent one comes so that you can produce it if needed.

 

Are you looking for a lucrative commercial driving job? Contact Nova Driver Services today or check out our online job board! We’re one of the top driver recruitment agencies in the GTA, and our team of experts would be happy to help.

 

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.