Canada’s Truck Driver’s Training: What To Expect

Canada is currently facing a serious heavy haul driver shortage. Despite the downfalls of such a future, the nation is adamant about encouraging younger people to give the lucrative career a shot; not only is the Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative planning to invest $2 billion in Canada’s transportation infrastructure over the next decade, but they are also looking to push for more incentives that container trucking companies can offer new drivers. If you think the commercial logistics (or warehousing and distribution) industry could be a good fit for you, here’s what you can expect from your training.

• Classroom Training: The most important (and first) part of in-class training involves the air brake endorsement course; you will be required to pass a practical test in which you have to prove that you know how to properly measure the adjustments of your brakes. Following that success, you will watch a number of videos regarding defensive driving, trip planning, safety, and pre-trip inspections. In addition to homework assignments, you’ll need to pass plenty of knowledge tests to show that you’re learning.

• Truck Training: This course familiarizes you with your vehicle. You’ll learn how to perform that pre-trip inspection on the truck itself, and will be trained on the drive shift; with so many different transmissions in trucks, you’ll gain experience on the one you’ll be driving. The first time you get behind the wheel will most likely be to practice shifting in the yard.

• On The Road Training: In the beginning, you’ll simply be adjusting to the size of the truck’s cab. Once you’re comfortable driving in traffic, you’ll learn how to couple to the trailer. You’ll have plenty of time to practice backing up, both in a straight line and into an alley dock situation, as it is one of the hardest skills to master. Finally, you’ll be able to test your knowledge and abilities on city streets and highways.

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When you make it through these three phases, you’ll be required to pass a road test to prove your competency. After that, you’re officially qualified to offer your warehousing and distribution services to any business that need a driver! With demand so high, you should have absolutely no problem finding a job.