How to become a trucker?

[sukhija23]

Hi!

Well, while my skills are that of an IT guy in finance industry, i have always been fascinated by a life on the road.

With the coming move to Canada, I would like to know how one can go about becoming a trucker 
What are the trainings required? How much do they cost? Where/who provides them?
How can i get started on this profession?
What are the challenges (apart from being on the road)?
What are the working conditions of truck drivers?

Any pointers will be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[newtone]

Hi!

Well, while my skills are that of an IT guy in finance industry, i have always been fascinated by a life on the road.

With the coming move to Canada, I would like to know how one can go about becoming a trucker  
What are the trainings required? How much do they cost? Where/who provides them?
How can i get started on this profession?
What are the challenges (apart from being on the road)?
What are the working conditions of truck drivers?

Any pointers will be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Plenty of opportunity for Truck drivers
You make the big money when you are doing cross border driving

You could find traning courses from local trucking schools, the Canadians will obviously cost more, try looking for desi schools, I dont know.. just taking a guess here... like "Singh is King Truck driving school", or "Munnu and Pappu" truck driving school, "Sadda Punjab Truck Driving", or "Mamoo and Phajju Truckers" etc

Challenges will be fatigue away from family and kids, winter driving conditions

Hope this helps

[sukhija23]

Thanks Newtone, that was bery helpful.

I have been researching a bit about this and came to know that drivers are paid by the km driven. So if you consider the non paid hours, then the pay is not that great either.

That somewhat takes the shine off.

[Leon]

I know a guy who is a long distance trucker, drives from Edmonton to California back and forth all the time.  Lets say he is definitely not rolling in money and he is hardly ever home.  I think the life on the road isn't all that interesting when all you do is drive, unload, load, and drive the same way back again and again but to each his own.  I am sure some people like it.  The pay is better than most survival jobs but still not that good.  They sleep and eat in their trucks for the most part.

To get a truck license, you first need a regular Canadian drivers license which you can get either by exchanging yours if there is an agreement between your country and your province or by taking the exam.  Then you can go to a trucker driving school and get your truck license.

[sukhija23]

Thanks Leon.

I am looking at this to see if it is a feasible stop gap kind of arrangement, while i look for a better job. But i dont see that happening, if i am going to be spending most of the time on the road.

But reading others' experiences, it doesn't seem like a good money making prospect.