Career Seekers

Resources for Career Seekers

The road transportation industry includes many different jobs and career paths.  The industry needs truck drivers (local and long haul) and motor coach drivers, dispatchers, and heavy-duty and truck-trailer mechanics, among many others. 

Occupations & Outlooks

If you are in the career planning stage, the following resources are helpful:

• www.workbc.ca
• www.careertrekbc.ca
• www.truckinghr.com
• www.workingincanada.gc.ca
• www.icbc.com – commercial licences

As well, Labour Market Information can tell you about career outlooks (demand and supply levels) for industry occupations in different regions of BC.  See WorkBC Statistics for details.

You may also find other resources online.  The Globe & Mail featured the “truck driver” occupation in a series on jobs and salaries for 2015. Click here for the article.

Truck Driver Training

There is currently no training standard for professional truck driver training programs in BC, although BCTA advocates establishing a minimum curriculum. Ontario has established mandatory entry-level training, and Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have announced similar programs.

Potential trainees should be looking at programs that teach the skills required for employment and not just the requirements for obtaining a commercial licence.  Another recommended practice is to ask for information meetings with driver supervisors at trucking companies you want to work for.

For details on the knowledge, skills and qualifications a truck driver needs on the job, consult the National Occupational Standard (NOS) for Commercial Vehicle Operator (Truck Driver) available from Trucking HR Canada at this link.  Compare the general work and driving skills listed in this document (referred to as “functional” and driving “competencies”) against a training program to see how well it covers the skills described in the NOS. 

Look for schools that describe how/whether they assist with job hunting and have a relationship with trucking employers.  If you would like to work for a specific company, find out what their requirements are in terms of training before you choose a school.

Although some truck driver training schools in this province are members of BCTA, we don't endorse any specific training schools or programs.

Jobs

A list of current job openings with BCTA member companies is available on our Job Postings page.  Companies may also have Careers pages on their websites, and many recruit on Twitter and Facebook.  

The “can’t get a job without experience, can’t get experience without a job” challenge

BCTA periodically receives calls from entry-level truck drivers and career counsellors asking how training program graduates can get a foot in the door with trucking employers.  Though it seems ironic, given the need for truck drivers, it’s like any occupation where employers are asked to take a risk on a new hire fresh out of training.  This is where the quality of the training program you’ve chosen matters, but a lot still depends on you. 

How are you willing to show your commitment to a truck driving career?

Please click here for a PDF of general suggestions for entry-level drivers looking for work. And again, BCTA does not specialize in HR and can’t speak for our members on their individual hiring practices.  We encourage you to persevere.