I want to be a truck driver - A career change needed.

Jinster81

Banned
Hey folks. Sorry about posting about a same subject again.

I worked as an auto tech for over 4 years. Working in a dealership, the pay isn't good as I thought. And it's not something I am super excited about doing. I thought about things I can do for a long time with some enjoyment and it's driving. I want to get into transport business, specifically, driving trucks.

I would like to known as a truck driver who also can fix cars.

The issue is where do I start? I know I need to go to school, but which one? Humber is too expensive.

And for those who are in the industry already, is it enough money to support yourself and your aging parents at least?
I am not into making alot of money, just a living.

Finally, I turned 30. Is it too late to learn a new career?

Please give me your insights, I know there are truckers in this forum, please help me out.

Thank you (sincerely) in advance.
 
My dads been an owner/operator for 20 years. When his truck is finally paid for he's looking for a new job. Your never home (depending on who you worm for where you haul) and the price of fuel eats a large portion of your income. It looks good on paper and mabie 7-8 years ago it was good but it seems that people are willing to drive for peanuts so wages haven't increased in proportion to the cost of fuel/maint/life. My $.02
 
A friend drives for company doing interprovincial hauls and seems to make good money. When he had his own rigs it wasn't as good because there was always someone undercutting. It seems if you want the good money you take the bad hauls. In his case he's older with no kids at home, just the wife.

A lot of trades aren't paying as well as before. A lot of people coming from disadvanteged places are thrilled to get anything better than minimum wages.

I started my own company at age 41 so 30 is nothing.
 
My great-grandfather graduated from Queens Medical School in 1922 and became a surgeon at age 40. That's quite a thing but it shows it IS possible.
 
Hey folks. Sorry about posting about a same subject again.

I worked as an auto tech for over 4 years. Working in a dealership, the pay isn't good as I thought. And it's not something I am super excited about doing. I thought about things I can do for a long time with some enjoyment and it's driving. I want to get into transport business, specifically, driving trucks.

I would like to known as a truck driver who also can fix cars.

The issue is where do I start? I know I need to go to school, but which one? Humber is too expensive.

And for those who are in the industry already, is it enough money to support yourself and your aging parents at least?
I am not into making alot of money, just a living.

Finally, I turned 30. Is it too late to learn a new career?

Please give me your insights, I know there are truckers in this forum, please help me out.

Thank you (sincerely) in advance.

And for those who are in the industry already, is it enough money to support yourself and your aging parents at least?
I am not into making alot of money, just a living.


Can you make money, well that really depends on you and your attitude, and who you work for. Ive been driving for 7 years on and off. I started when i was 21 and made almost 60,000 my first year. But that was back when my company truck did 130km an hour and i didnt know the meaning of a log book. Today every truck in ontario is capped at 105 and you still get paid by the mile, meaning you work longer hours for the same pay. After spending thousands of dollars on tickets and basically getting burned out in the first year ive moved around different companies in search of a normal job. I did local, short haul, long haul out west, containers...you name it ive done it.
In the last 7 years ive learned a lot about this industry and ill share a few of those points with you:

1.) 9 out of 10 companies will give you **** equipment, unrealistic deadlines, and waste your time due to poor planning on their part
I have sat 12 hours at a shipper waiting to get loaded, only to drive 5 hours back to toronto form michigan. i only got paid PER MILES DRIVEN. when i ran out of hours i was told to use another log book...

2.) Majority of the companies are crooks, you will get ripped off, its just a matter of how much and when especially when youre new
If i added up all the money ive gotten ripped off for in my first four years, i could go out and buy my 2002 corvette z06 with cash today

3.) When you are new to the industries they will run you like a slave, make phony promises and drop you like a fly the moment something goes wrong.


With that said, there is that 1 out of 10. If youre lucky to find this company its not that bad. It took me 4 years and plenty of ****** companies to find one thats worth my time. I almost gave up driving for good plenty of times because i thought all companies were run by idiots and thieves. Right now im looking at getting my own truck and doing a dedicated run...
This isnt to say its easy if you get on with a decent company. The hours are long, lots of regulations, and other things you have to deal with. But this comes with every job out there. You have to look at the pros and cons of the complete big picture. Personally id rather sit in a warm truck in the winter, listen to my tunes and drive than do physical labour outdoors. Only you know yourself and what you want and what you are willing to sacrifice...


The issue is where do I start? I know I need to go to school, but which one? Humber is too expensive.

If you decide you want to do this, the very first thing you do is go online and apply for a F.A.S.T card. Its a piece of ID issued by the USA Homeland security. It takes some time to get from start to finish since a detailed background check is done by both canada and usa and you have to go to fort erie or windsor for an interview.
Once you do the above you need to go out and get yourself a book from mto on air brakes and tractor trailers. Pics are below.
After you know both in and out you go and do the written portion of the test at a drive test facility, then you find a school. Unfortunately schools are run by the same crooks who operate a lot of these companies. Finding one can be tricky, they are in business to make money and not teach you how to drive. Stay away from humber, and Metro. At the same time find an air brake course which is usually a weekend class. Cost is about 300 and once you do the course you wont have to do the air brake portion on your road test. After that do your driving, pass the road test and you got yourself a license.
HandbookTruck_en.jpg

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Finally, I turned 30. Is it too late to learn a new career?

Its never too late, this doesnt take years to do. You can be done in 2 months if you really want to do it.


I know it seems like a lot to do, but it really isnt once you get to it. Also i wrote out the steps quickly, if you need more details or have any questions PM me. Listening to what others have gone through and learning from their mistakes can make your life so much easier...
 
You can be done in 2 months if you really want to do it.
However, unless you have taken a formal AZ Driver Training course, you will be SOL when looking for a job - many carriers require a minimum of 2yr driving experience before they will even look at you. The reason is exorbitant insurance rates on new drivers; they simply cannot afford to pay the premiums on them. Some companies offer additional training under the new Professional Transport Operator program; the Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Training and Apprenticeship now has a formal training program to become a truck driver, but it is a voluntary program and so far only a few carriers have signed on.

However, these companies will take newly minted AZ drivers and train them under the 2yrs curriculum, so at this point they are pretty much your only option if you want to work for a reputable company. Note that you need to have a licence and certificate from a trucking school that is on your prospective employer's approved list - don't go out and spend $5k on a course and then find out that it is worthless - take the time to investigate the schools first and see which ones offer placement programs and what companies they send graduates to.

I did the “career change” thing a couple years ago, shelved my Millwright ticket and took my AZ training with Transport Training Centres of Canada, which was an approved school for several large transport companies. I was hired by Kriska (Mississauga) immediately after graduation and went on to successfully complete their 2yr apprenticeship program; when I was finished I put my name out on a few trucking job sites and had many, many bites – my apprenticeship certificate was a BIG plus and companies who normally require 5yrs experience were now calling and offering me a job. I settled on a company close to home, Hyndman Transport out of Wroxeter, and now motor about in a nice Peterbilt 386 all over Ontario and much of the southern and southeastern US. Just got back yesterday from a trip down to Jacksonville NC, then over to Atlanta GA and back to Toronto, in fact.

Will you get rich trucking? No, not really. It depends on how long you’re willing to stay out and how well your company pays you (if you decide to be a company driver). Same thing as an owner-operator; there is a decent wage to be made, but it comes at the expense of a social life and time at home. The trick is to decide what you want to do and then find a company to drive for who will give you what you want. Me, I’m married to a beautiful woman, not a truck, and I only go out 5-6 days per week. I take a bit of a hit in the paycheque as a result, but I love the job and get to spend more time at home, plus I can ride the bike to work. I’m happy, happier than I ever was when making more coin as a Millwright. YMMV.

EDIT: Feel free to PM me, too, with any questions.
 
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Thanks to all of you for your inputs. Happy Sunday!!
 
However, unless you have taken a formal AZ Driver Training course, you will be SOL when looking for a job - many carriers require a minimum of 2yr driving experience before they will even look at you. The reason is exorbitant insurance rates on new drivers; they simply cannot afford to pay the premiums on them. Some companies offer additional training under the new Professional Transport Operator program; the Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Training and Apprenticeship now has a formal training program to become a truck driver, but it is a voluntary program and so far only a few carriers have signed on.

However, these companies will take newly minted AZ drivers and train them under the 2yrs curriculum, so at this point they are pretty much your only option if you want to work for a reputable company. Note that you need to have a licence and certificate from a trucking school that is on your prospective employer's approved list - don't go out and spend $5k on a course and then find out that it is worthless - take the time to investigate the schools first and see which ones offer placement programs and what companies they send graduates to.

I did the “career change” thing a couple years ago, shelved my Millwright ticket and took my AZ training with Transport Training Centres of Canada, which was an approved school for several large transport companies. I was hired by Kriska (Mississauga) immediately after graduation and went on to successfully complete their 2yr apprenticeship program; when I was finished I put my name out on a few trucking job sites and had many, many bites – my apprenticeship certificate was a BIG plus and companies who normally require 5yrs experience were now calling and offering me a job. I settled on a company close to home, Hyndman Transport out of Wroxeter, and now motor about in a nice Peterbilt 386 all over Ontario and much of the southern and southeastern US. Just got back yesterday from a trip down to Jacksonville NC, then over to Atlanta GA and back to Toronto, in fact.

Will you get rich trucking? No, not really. It depends on how long you’re willing to stay out and how well your company pays you (if you decide to be a company driver). Same thing as an owner-operator; there is a decent wage to be made, but it comes at the expense of a social life and time at home. The trick is to decide what you want to do and then find a company to drive for who will give you what you want. Me, I’m married to a beautiful woman, not a truck, and I only go out 5-6 days per week. I take a bit of a hit in the paycheque as a result, but I love the job and get to spend more time at home, plus I can ride the bike to work. I’m happy, happier than I ever was when making more coin as a Millwright. YMMV.

EDIT: Feel free to PM me, too, with any questions.

How much did this formal training cost you, and what did include exactly and what did you get paid the first couple years if you dont mind me asking.
 
How much did this formal training cost you, and what did include exactly and what did you get paid the first couple years if you dont mind me asking.

The training was just over $5k, although I am told it has increased since then. But if you get hired by a company that is registered with the Ontario Apprenticeship program, if you successfully complete the one year on-job training you get a $2k grant from the government as a reward. That was one sweet day when I received my cheque in the mail!

Kriska put me on their regular company driver pay scale right from the start; $0.38mi for domestic loads and $0.38- $0.42mi (depending on the customer) for US loads.

EDIT: Forgot to include the school trg details; it was a full 6-week course with the first five days in the classroom and the rest out on the road with the truck. Classroom portion included Hours Of Service, FMCSA regs, HAZMAT, Air Brake certification, and detailed theory of operation for tractor-trailer driving. Road time was 6-8hrs per day in the truck, starting off with bobtail, then hauling empty 53' trailer, then hauling loaded (20,000lb) 53" trailer.
 
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You're never too old for a career change, but you have to factor in if it's viable or not. I plan on a career change at 32... maybe 35.
 
The training was just over $5k, although I am told it has increased since then. But if you get hired by a company that is registered with the Ontario Apprenticeship program, if you successfully complete the one year on-job training you get a $2k grant from the government as a reward. That was one sweet day when I received my cheque in the mail!

Kriska put me on their regular company driver pay scale right from the start; $0.38mi for domestic loads and $0.38- $0.42mi (depending on the customer) for US loads.

EDIT: Forgot to include the school trg details; it was a full 6-week course with the first five days in the classroom and the rest out on the road with the truck. Classroom portion included Hours Of Service, FMCSA regs, HAZMAT, Air Brake certification, and detailed theory of operation for tractor-trailer driving. Road time was 6-8hrs per day in the truck, starting off with bobtail, then hauling empty 53' trailer, then hauling loaded (20,000lb) 53" trailer.

That doesnt sound too bad actually. One thing ive noticed is that barely any schools teach you with a full trailer. Theres a big difference when running around empty and when you have an additional 45,000 lbs pushing you
 
I wheel right by Hyndman all the time. I get lots of looks as my Pete looks a lot like theirs. White with red and black stripes. I'm always hooked to a B-train with 2x20' cans. I'll be driving right by there in 3 hrs actually,...... if and when the crane finally loads me with empty cans.


However, unless you have taken a formal AZ Driver Training course, you will be SOL when looking for a job - many carriers require a minimum of 2yr driving experience before they will even look at you. The reason is exorbitant insurance rates on new drivers; they simply cannot afford to pay the premiums on them. Some companies offer additional training under the new Professional Transport Operator program; the Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Training and Apprenticeship now has a formal training program to become a truck driver, but it is a voluntary program and so far only a few carriers have signed on.

However, these companies will take newly minted AZ drivers and train them under the 2yrs curriculum, so at this point they are pretty much your only option if you want to work for a reputable company. Note that you need to have a licence and certificate from a trucking school that is on your prospective employer's approved list - don't go out and spend $5k on a course and then find out that it is worthless - take the time to investigate the schools first and see which ones offer placement programs and what companies they send graduates to.

I did the “career change” thing a couple years ago, shelved my Millwright ticket and took my AZ training with Transport Training Centres of Canada, which was an approved school for several large transport companies. I was hired by Kriska (Mississauga) immediately after graduation and went on to successfully complete their 2yr apprenticeship program; when I was finished I put my name out on a few trucking job sites and had many, many bites – my apprenticeship certificate was a BIG plus and companies who normally require 5yrs experience were now calling and offering me a job. I settled on a company close to home, Hyndman Transport out of Wroxeter, and now motor about in a nice Peterbilt 386 all over Ontario and much of the southern and southeastern US. Just got back yesterday from a trip down to Jacksonville NC, then over to Atlanta GA and back to Toronto, in fact.

Will you get rich trucking? No, not really. It depends on how long you’re willing to stay out and how well your company pays you (if you decide to be a company driver). Same thing as an owner-operator; there is a decent wage to be made, but it comes at the expense of a social life and time at home. The trick is to decide what you want to do and then find a company to drive for who will give you what you want. Me, I’m married to a beautiful woman, not a truck, and I only go out 5-6 days per week. I take a bit of a hit in the paycheque as a result, but I love the job and get to spend more time at home, plus I can ride the bike to work. I’m happy, happier than I ever was when making more coin as a Millwright. YMMV.

EDIT: Feel free to PM me, too, with any questions.
 
I wheel right by Hyndman all the time. I get lots of looks as my Pete looks a lot like theirs. White with red and black stripes. I'm always hooked to a B-train with 2x20' cans. I'll be driving right by there in 3 hrs actually,...... if and when the crane finally loads me with empty cans.

I'm on reset til tomorrow, but I'll keep an eye out for you in the future. I'm in #1815, I'll wave to you with my right hand 'cause it's an Autoshift. :D
 
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