Information for foreign-trained truck drivers
(7411) Verified: 2008 10 31
Information on requirements to practise
If you wish to work as a truck driver in Canada, you will need to pass the driving test and obtain a driver's licence appropriate to the specific type of equipment being operated. Once you have settled in Canada, you should contact the appropriate provincial/territorial Ministry of Transportation for further details on licensing requirements (see list below). Graduation from an accredited operators course is usually a requirement. Class 1 or Class 3 license (dependent on type of equipment operated) is required. An air brake endorsement is also usually required.
Information on assessment of qualifications
You may consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, which has been compiled to help individuals learn more about how to obtain an assessment of their qualifications for employment purposes in Canada. We draw to your attention the list of evaluation services in question 4 of this fact sheet. You may contact any of them for expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with credentials obtained in Canada.
Please note that these assessments are advisory only and do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment purposes in Canada.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada regarding:
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
The following sites may also be of interest:
List of Transportation Ministries/Departments in Canada
Alberta
- Government of Alberta Transportation
- 4999-98 Avenue
- Edmonton AB T6B 2X3
- Phone : 780-427-2731
- Email : Trans.Contact.Us.M@gov.ab.ca
- http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/499.htm
British Columbia
- Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)
- 151 West Esplanade
- North Vancouver BC V7M 3H9 Canada
- Phone : (604) 661-2800
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-663-3051
- http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/comm-lic/step-commlicence
Manitoba
- Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation
- Manitoba Public Insurance
PO Box 6300
Room B100, 234 Donald Street- Winnipeg MB R3C 4A4 Canada
- Phone : (204) 985-7000
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-665-2410
- http://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/
New Brunswick
- Department of Transportation, New Brunswick (DOT-NB)
- P.O. Box 6000
- Fredericton NB E3B 5H1 Canada
- Phone : (506) 453-3939
- Fax : (506) -453-2900
- Email : Special.Permits@gnb.ca
- http://www.gnb.ca/0113/trucking/trucking-e.asp
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Department of Government Services, Newfoundland and Labrador
- P.O. Box 8700
- St. John's NL A1B 4J6 Canada
- Phone : (709) 729-3699
- Fax : (709) 729-2071
- Email : info@gs.gov.nl.ca
- http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/
Northwest Territories
- Department of Transportation, Northwest Territories
- P.O. Box 1320
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
- Phone : (867) 873-7487
- Fax : (867) 669-9094
- Email : KARL_RICHARD@gov.nt.ca
- http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/issuingoffices.aspx
Nova Scotia
- Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
- Mail Room, 8 South
Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street- Halifax NS B3J 3K5 Canada
- Phone : (902) 424-5200
- Fax : (902) 424-0720
- Email : askus@gov.ns.ca
- http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr
Ontario
- Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO)
- 1201 Wilson Avenue
- Toronto ON M3M 1J8 Canada
- Phone : (416) 235-2999
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-387-34451
- http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/
Prince Edward Island
- Department of Transportation and Public Works, PEI
- 11 Kent Street, 3rd Floor
- Charlottetown PE C1A 7N8 Canada
- Phone : (902) 368-5100
- Fax : (902) 368-5395
- http://www.gov.pe.ca/tpw/
Quebec
- Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)
- 333 boulevard Jean-Lesage, C.P. 19600, Succursale Terminus
- Québec QC G1K 8J6 Canada
- Phone : (418) 643-7620
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-361-7620
- Email : courrier@saaq.gouv.qc.ca
- http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/lourds/index.html
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI)
- 2260-11th Avenue
- Regina SK S4P 0J9 Canada
- Phone : (306) 751-1200
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-667-8015
- Email : sgiinquiries@sgi.sk.ca
- http://www.sgi.sk.ca
Yukon
- Yukon Community Services, Motor Vehicles & Driver Licenses
- 308 Steele Street
Lynn Building, Main Floor- Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C5 Canada
- Phone : (867) 667-5315
- Fax : (867) 393-6220
- Email : motor.vehicles@gov.yk.ca
- http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/motorvehicles/newmvindex.html