About

If you fancy the move to Canada, remember that it is not Britain or a European country. In Canada things are different to anything you have ever experienced in Europe. The people are amongst the most genuine and decent I have ever encountered, and the general ethos here is of being helpful and neighbourly, but they expect the same from you.

The weather goes from one extreme to the other. At the start of Spring this year, it was -10 one day, +7 the next and that was about the coldest day we had for months. It went into the 40s in Summer, then it turned chilly overnight again. Within a couple of weeks we had snow on the ground and it barely struggled above freezing all day.

Driving a truck here is more of the same, but worlds different at the same time. In the UK, you are lucky if you drive 500 miles in one day. Here they expect at least 500 miles. They consider the first 300 miles as "warming the engine". The miles you do will not all be motorway miles. Many highways in Canada are single carriageway with villages and towns along the routes so they are not always fast routes.

The tractor units are as long as a six wheeled tipper in the UK, and you have 53' trailers up behind you. You would be surprised at how manoevreable they are though. The work I do is flatwork. Straps and tarps!

If you want to drive in Canada then think really hard then consider following these steps as a starting point.

 
1} Discuss the matter fully, frankly and honestly with all those it will affect. Include family and friends in this if they are going to be affected by your leaving, or if you are going to be affected by leaving them. Think about it fully and do not rush into it. A couple of calls to Canada will be unnoticed on your bill. Decide if you can handle the thought of a completely new beginning. Also, make sure everyone has a minimum of 2 years left on their passports.

2} This is optional, but will save you time and patience. Buy a plain paper fax machine and new ink cartridge for it. Might cost £80 in Argos but will save you weeks in postage time.

3} Try searching the net. Something like this.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLR,GGLR:2006-28,GGLR:en&q=trucking+companies+in+canada . You can also search for trucking association on Google.

4} Email or call companies, asking for the recruitment office. Remember that Ontario is 5 hours behind the UK, BC is 8 hours behind. Ask them if they are recruiting from the UK, and if they are enrolled with the Provincial Nominee Programme, and if they use the HRSDC (Human Resources people). If they are, talk to them about their requirements and what they will offer you. If you like the sound of it then ask for an application form or pack. Chances are, they will ask you to fly out to see them. Flights vary in cost, but I will send you the cheapest firms details on PM if you want. Come out, take a look around. TALK TO OTHERS AT THE FIRM!!!!

5} Apply to your Police force for a complete Criminal record search for all adults who will be coming over. These can take up to 40 days to arrive and are valid for 6 months. Contrary to popular belief, the record search will not need renewing provided it is valid when you arrive in Canada. You will automatically be on the Canadian files if you do something wrong. they are only interested in making sure you have been good up till then.

5} Fill out the forms and send them back, by fax if they will accept them that way. The company will then send you your Labour Market Opinion Application for your signature. This is why the fax is handy. After a few weeks, you will receive a letter from the firm confirming that you are accepted for the programme. Usually 3 pages on the fax. They will also send you a written job offer.

6} go to www.cic.gc.ca and search for "Working in Canada". Halfway down the left hand side of the page, and print the application forms to be filled out. I can't say which you will need as it depends on the programme, but the firm will help you.

7} Fill these forms out, fax a copy to the employer for their records, and get passport photos of all those leaving. I think these need to be signed, but I can't remember offhand.

8} Make copies of everything. Send, or better still take, all of the above to the Canadian High Commission at 38 Grosvenor Street in London. They open at 8am, but you may want to get there early, say 6:30. If you need coffee, there's a Starbucks just down the sidestreet from the US embassy. Take an umbrella. I think the cost of the work permit is £70 per permit. It was, at any rate. When you go inside, they will want cash, and only cash. Hand it over, and ask if it all looks to be in order.

9} Go home and wait. By this point I had largely sold everything because I was on a timeframe. If you have someone to deal with things like selling your telly then so much the better.

10} When you get your letter of approval, book your flights and leave.

11} On arrival in Canada, you will have to go to Immigration to get your permit stapled into your Passport. If you have a connecting flight to catch then it is best to make sure you have at least 3 hours between them. Even better, use the info boards to find a motel for the night and connect the following day.

12} Get your licence, orientation and jetlag out of the way and start a completely new way in Canada.

If I have missed anything out then I apologise, but someone from CIC or the company will tell you if you need anything else.


This is pretty much how I sorted things out. I came and saw the firm in mid Novemeber, decided on the spot and started things in motion. I landed on January 15th and my family joined me a month later. I used no agency of any sort. I asked no company to help me out other than my employer. I paid nobody except the airlines and the Canadian Government.
I did it myself. You can, too.