According to a recent estimate, the Canadian trucking industry will be 48,000 drivers short by 2024.
This is fantastic news for truck drivers because it will provide an excellent opportunity for truck drivers looking to relocate to Canada.
Furthermore, the Canadian transportation industry has a high demand for long-haul truck drivers but a scarcity of available positions.
The Canadian government has also backed these developments by issuing work visas to qualified international truck drivers looking for work in Canada.
Truck Driver Job Requirements in Canada (With Visa Sponsorship)
Let’s look at the requirements for becoming a truck driver in Canada.
This will help you understand what is required to obtain a visa sponsorship truck driver job in Canada as a foreigner. Among them are the following:
Permanent, full-time, overtime, weekend, day, night, and evening truck driver jobs are available in Canada.
A high school diploma is preferred but not required for this position.
Heavy-duty driving experience is preferred but not required.
It is necessary to be able to communicate in basic or functional English.
This job will necessitate the acquisition of certificates, licenses, memberships, courses, and other credentials.
A valid driver’s license (Class 1 or A) and the Air Brake (Z) Endorsement are required.
Tractor-trailer, Flatbed, Refrigerated, Highway, Straight truck (4,600kg+ or 10,000lbs+ with three or more axles).
Security and safety: All of the following are required: basic security clearance, criminal background check, driving record check (abstract), medical examination, and drug test.
Transportation and travel information: Willing to travel throughout Canada and the United States.
Willing to travel during the day, evening, or night, including overnight routes, and for extended periods of time.
Other requirements include the ability to work legally in Canada and the willingness to work in a two-person team to drive long-haul trucks.
Ability to operate and drive straight or articulated trucks for the transportation of products and supplies is required.
Loading and unloading cargo, tarping, and ensuring cargo safety and security
You must be able to plan your trip routes and schedules.
You should be able to use atlases and other planning tools to assist you in planning your journey.
Gather information and send it to the central dispatcher.
The ability to drive in a convoy or in a two-person squad.
You should also be able to inspect the vehicle’s tires, lights, brakes, cold storage, and other equipment.
Top Provincial Truck Driver Programs in Canada
Here is a list of the top programs for finding a truck driver job with visa sponsorship in Canada:
The province of British Columbia
British Columbia is a provincial program in Canada for truck drivers.
A full-time job offer in long-haul trucking is the gold standard for candidates in British Columbia’s entry-level and semi-skilled category, which has over 400 job openings. Long-haul drivers are allowed to stay in the province indefinitely.
Visit their website at https://www.immigration.ca/british-columbia-immigration/ to learn more about immigration in British Columbia.
Quebec
Quebec leads the way in terms of provincial opportunities for truck drivers, with 837 job postings now available.
Truck driver employment prospects are ‘excellent’ with their platform, according to information on the Quebec government’s employment website.
Visit the Quebec immigration website at https://www.immigration.ca/en/quebecimmigrationprovincial.html.
Ontario
Along with three other occupations, the NOC code for transport truck drivers (7511) was added to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream in July 2019.
It means that experienced truck drivers with a job offer in Ontario can take a predetermined path to permanent residence in Canada.
More information about immigration can be found at https://www.immigration.ca/en/ontario-immigration.html.
Long-haul truckers in Alberta are also in high demand thanks to the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program.
The job bank has over 500 openings for long-haul truck drivers. Both the Alberta Opportunity Stream and the Alberta Express Entry are available to truck drivers.
Manitoba
Employers in Manitoba who want to hire truck drivers should use the federal Labour Market Impact Assessment for Temporary Foreign Workers process.
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program only permits businesses to hire outside of the LMIA procedure if certain criteria, such as recruitment efforts and compliance with provincial labor laws, are met.
To learn more, go to the Manitoba immigration website at https://www.immigration.ca/en/manitoba-immigration.html.
Labrador and Newfoundland
This is a province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. The Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Outlook 2025 report highlights truck driving as an occupation that will require significant immigration to meet job vacancy demand.
Trucking companies must apply to be eligible employers for the NLPNP’s Skilled Worker and Express Entry streams.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Immigration has a separate Long-Haul Truck Drivers Sub-Category for people who are already working in Canada on a work permit.
The occupation is also eligible for the province’s Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand draws, which each target specific occupations.
Nova Scotia Transport Truck Drivers (NOC 7511) are one of two jobs available through the Occupations In-Demand Stream of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.
This makes it simple for drivers to find permanent housing.
You can apply for a job as a truck driver in Canada through this program and have your visa paid for.
Truck Driver Wages in Canada
Truck drivers’ hourly wages are now comparable to national and provincial averages. A truck driver’s median wage is slightly less than the national average, according to data from job bank and Statistics Canada.
In some cases, however, it can reach $32 per hour, which is more than $8 higher than the national average.
Wages for truck drivers are expected to rise as job demand rises in the coming years, as expected.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a truck driver job in Canada that offers visa sponsorship to foreign nationals, you have come to the right place.
This article emphasized the numerous opportunities available as well as the various programs that provide them.
