Career Options
Gearing up for the road aheadFor tens of thousands of Canadians, Willie Nelson's song On the Road Again is as much an anthem as it is a way of life. Whether they're working long, regional or local hauls, they're logging countless miles in a career that's in huge demand. Linda White |
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 [ 2005-09-21 ] |
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According to a study conducted last year for the Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council, the transportation industry is facing a staggering shortage of qualified commercial truckers. The study predicts the need for more than 37,000 new truckers a year through 2008 to keep pace with economic growth. Two thirds of all new drivers will require a Class 'A' commercial driver's licence so they're qualified to drive tractor-trailers.
Attrition is contributing to the shortage. In 2001, 40% of employees in transportation were 45 years or older, compared to 31% for all other industries. At the same time, just 4.5% of drivers were aged between 20 and 24.
Could truck driving be the right career for you? "Anyone interested in becoming a trucker should find out as much as they can about the job," says Gus Rahim, president of the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario. "Some schools and carriers put on career fairs. Visit our website (www.ttsao.com) and learn about accredited training schools in your area. Start on the right track. Many accredited schools are connected with carriers, many of which hire directly through schools."
The trucking industry is made up of a few large companies but is dominated by thousands of small and medium-sized businesses and independent owner-operators. There's a huge variety of carriers, including agricultural, auto parts, automobiles, boats, container, courier, environmental products, refrigerated grocery, livestock, steel, liquid bulk and recycling waste.
In addition to finding prospective employers through a training school, you can visit websites like www.jobsintrucking.ca, read trade magazines and scan newspaper ads.
You'll want to ask plenty of questions: What types of haul will you drive? How long will you be on the road for long or regional hauls? What kind of load will you carry? What does the job involve? What kind of truck will you drive? Does the company provide additional training? How much you can expect to earn? What benefits does it offer?
Be prepared for plenty of questions in return. After all, being a skilled driver is key to earning a living as a professional trucker, but it's only part of the job. Drivers must be able to plan their route, maintain paperwork and understand the operating characteristics of their vehicles.
As the front-line contact with a company's customers, truckers play a key role in maintaining customer loyalty. "Attitude is very important,"Rahim says. "Carriers want to bring the right people into the trade so the candidate is successful and will stay in the job."
With the right combination of skills, attitude and experience, you can look forward to a promising career. "There is a huge demand for drivers," Rahim says. "Once you build up experience, you can go pretty well wherever you want."
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