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Written By
Corinna Frattini
Mar 27, 2025
•Career Pathways
Transport Truck Driver
Are you interested in a truck driving career in Canada? With a current shortage of about 20,000 truck drivers, it’s a high-demand occupation in Canada. Truck driving is an exciting career within a $67 billion industry and is essential to the country’s economy. To respond to the truck driver shortage, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) created a new transportation category and process for Canada’s Express Entry program. This focus on candidates with transport experience, including commercial truck drivers, will make it easier for you to immigrate to Canada. The new selection process also helps Canada to invite newcomers with driving experience to fill labour gaps and ensure the success of the transport sector. This overview provides information to research job requirements, learn about a truck driver salary in Canada, and much more!
It’s vital to know and understand the steps you will have to take before you can work as a truck driver in Canada.
These are some general steps to take before you arrive in Canada:
Do you want one-on-one coaching to help you continue your construction career in Canada before you arrive? The Integrating Newcomers program is for you if you’re a technical professional e.g. tradesperson, engineer (in any discipline), architect, technician, technologist, project manager, estimator, or analyst. This Canada-wide service can help you get started!
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARIt’s vital to know what you need to work as a truck driver. In Canada, you’ll need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). And employers usually require:
Canadian employers will also provide on-the-job training.
To get your CDL, you have to take driver training and meet the minimum age requirement in the province where you want to live. Generally, the minimum age to obtain a CDL in Canada is 18. However, in some provinces such as Ontario and Quebec, you must be 21. You will also have to pass a:
According to Transport Canada, over 350,000 people work in the country’s trucking and logistics sectors and most are truck drivers. Even so, the Government of Canada Job Bank, predicts a labour shortage from 2022-2031. This means there will be job opportunities for newcomers with the right skills, experience, and qualifications.
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) provides a general overview and standard definition of truck driver jobs in Canada. The five-digit NOC code 73300 applies to drivers such as:
You can review this information to understand the main duties and transport driver job requirements.
Truck drivers need to be excellent drivers, but they also have to have strong communication skills. Foreign truck drivers require a minimum of Level 7 Canadian Language Benchmark score (CLB 7) in a language proficiency exam. Canadian employers look for friendly and assertive drivers who can communicate with customers and clients, dispatchers, and others.
You may need to upgrade your skills, including your soft skills for trucking jobs in Canada.
Having strong skills in one or both of Canada’s official languages, English or French, is important for your success. Whether you choose to focus on improving English or French will depend on which of the two languages is most spoken in the area where you live.
There are Job-specific language training programs to teach you professional terminology. And, there is Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT) in Ontario.
You may be eligible for the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. Or you can find other free or affordable classes in English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL) classes through local school boards or settlement agencies.
Some colleges in Canada offer truck driving programs, or you can attend a program that private companies offer. However, be sure to verify that the program is government-approved to that you’re eligible to apply for your truck driving license once you graduate.
Here are some accredited truck driving schools:
Humber College (Toronto)
CCA Truck Driver Training (Calgary)
Collège Trans-Canada College (East Coast)
Road Titans Driving School (Greater Vancouver Region and Surrey)
You can also check these directories of accredited schools:
Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario
Licensed Driver Training Schools Alberta
Trucking associations can be a valuable resource to help you advance your truck driving career. The following associations provide information, education programs, training materials, and webinars to help truck drivers stay informed about the ever-changing trucking industry in Canada.
Alberta Motor Transport Association
Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association
Saskatchewan Trucking Association
The truck driver salary in Canada is based on your experience, qualifications, and the province where you work. On average, truck drivers make about $24.00 per hour (national average., according to Government of Canada Job Bank information.
The average base salary is about $61,468. But the yearly truck driver salary varies based on where you live in Canada. In addition to their yearly salary, truck drivers can also earn additional cash compensation and bonuses.
Long-haul truck driving typically pays the highest rates because of the extended hours on the road to cover large distances.
The provincial median wages are higher in Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory. Here are the most recent wages for transport drivers across Canada (click on the links in the table to see wage information by provincial regions.)
| PROVINCE | LOW ($/HOUR) | MEDIAN ($/HOUR) | HIGH ($/HOUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 16.50 | 24.00 | 33.72 |
| Alberta | 18.12 | 28.00 | 37.45 |
| British Columbia | 19.00 | 27.00 | 38.00 |
| Manitoba | 15.00 | 22.00 | 21.00 |
| New Brunswick | 15.00 | 19.88 | 26.25 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 15.00 | 22.00 | 34.38 |
| Northwest Territories | 25.00 | 30.00 | 35.00 |
| Nova Scotia | 14.50 | 20.50 | 28.85 |
| Nunavut | 22.85 | 28.00 | 36.00 |
| Ontario | 17.00 | 24.00 | 32.24 |
| Prince Edward Island | 15.00 | 19.55 | 28.50 |
| Quebec | 16.00 | 22.08 | 30.00 |
| Saskatchewan | 16.00 | 25.00 | 32.50 |
| Yukon Territory | 25.00 | 30.90 | 35.00 |
You can find transport driver jobs in most provinces and Canadian cities. However, the truck driver shortage is the greatest in Saskatchewan, and it has the highest number of trucking jobs per capita of any province.
Canada’s biggest provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia, also have many trucking jobs available. You can explore job prospects by province or territory to determine where to find the greatest demand for drivers.
Canada offers different jobs to licensed truck drivers within two broad categories:
Long-haul drivers transport goods between provinces and across the Canada-U.S. border. They usually drive across Canada and farther distances than regional drivers. For those with international truck driving experience, long-haul driving is a great opportunity to explore Canada’s different regions and cultural differences.
Regional drivers transport goods from one city to another within the province. A benefit for regional truck drivers is that they usually are not away from their families for long periods. Most regional drivers can return home each day, allowing for more time to spend with family and a greater work-life balance.
Truck drivers are the backbone of the global supply chain.
According to the Canada Trucking Alliance, There are about 4,500 carriers, owner-operators, and industry suppliers.
Some of the top trucking companies in Canada include:
In addition to transportation companies, truck driver jobs are also available in manufacturing, distribution, and moving companies, and trucking employment service agencies. Truck drivers can also be self-employed.
Searching for a job in Canada may be different than how you would search in your home country. So, you may need help with your job search. Fortunately, there are settlement services to help you search for jobs, update your resume, write cover letters, and prepare for job interviews.
Here are additional tips to search for trucking jobs in Canada:
Click here to find immigrant services in your area.
Networking and building relationships with others will play an important role when searching for a job in Canada. So, take advantage of opportunities to network with others in the trucking industry. For example, when taking driving training, participate in class discussions and build relationships with classmates and instructors.
Networking plays a crucial role in learning about the trucking industry in Canada and tapping into job opportunities. Often, many companies do not advertise job vacancies, so networking is an effective way to tap into this ‘hidden job market.’ Connecting with others in the trucking industry will help discover jobs in the hidden job market.
LinkedIn is another valuable tool for networking. It allows you to reconnect with former colleagues and employers, search for companies and job openings, and receive introductions to others in the field.
When networking, it’s better if you avoid asking directly for a job. However, if your contacts are aware of any job leads, they will likely share that information with you. Your network can serve as a valuable resource to learn about job vacancies.
When crafting your resume, it’s helpful to keep the needs of hiring managers in mind. Your resume should demonstrate your strong driving track record, time management skills, customer service skills, and technical skills and licenses.
Consider these resume writing tips to showcase your qualifications and stand out as a strong candidate:
Here are some examples of phrases that you might include in your resume:
Driving a truck is a demanding job and can be stressful. Employers will want to assess your work history and safe driving skills. In addition, employers look for drivers with strong customer service skills and value the importance of road safety. You can expect to answer some of the following questions:
Transport driver jobs are key to manufacturing, agriculture, and mining industries and linking Canadian businesses with the world. With a current shortage of about 20,000 drivers, trucking in Canada is a high-demand occupation. And, with an understanding of job requirements, career options, and a truck driver’s salary in Canada, this could be a great opportunity for you!
WRITTEN BY
Corinna Frattini
Senior Editor, Prepare for Canada
Corinna Frattini is the Senior Editor and Content Director for Prepare for Canada. She contributes articles to help newcomers achieve their goals in key areas related to living, working, and settling in Canada. With an extensive background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
© Prepare for Canada 2025
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