Research shows that by 2025, Canada is expected to have a shortfall of around 48,000 long-haul truck drivers. This shortage creates a promising opportunity for individuals looking to pursue a career of Truck Driver Jobs in Canada.
The transportation sector in Canada is currently facing a strong demand for long-haul truck drivers, with a notable gap between available jobs and workers. To address this, the Canadian government offers work permits to eligible foreign workers who wish to enter the country and fill these essential roles.
Truck Driver Jobs in Canada Requirements (With Visa Sponsorship).
If you’re considering sponsoring someone for a truck driver position in Canada, it’s important to understand the key requirements and expectations for this role:
- Work Schedule: Truck drivers typically work full-time, including weekends, night shifts, overtime, and varying day or night hours.
- Education: A high school diploma is not mandatory for this job.
- Experience: While experience driving heavy loads is beneficial, it is not a strict requirement.
- Language Skills: Basic or functional English communication skills are essential to perform the job safely and effectively.
- Licensing and Certification: Applicants must hold the necessary licenses and endorsements, including:
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A valid driver’s license such as Class 1, Class A, or equivalent.
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An Air Brake endorsement (Z).
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Relevant certificates and completion of required courses.
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- Vehicle Types: Drivers often operate various types of heavy equipment, including tractor-trailers, flatbeds, highway trucks, and refrigerated trucks weighing over 4,600 kg (10,000 lbs) with three or more axles.
- Security and Safety Checks: Candidates must pass a basic security clearance and criminal background check, provide a driving record, undergo medical exams, and submit to drug testing.
- Travel Requirements: Truck drivers should be prepared to travel extensively across Canada and the United States, including long distances and extended periods on the road at any time of day or night.
- Additional Requirements: Candidates must have the legal right to work in Canada and be willing to collaborate with others when operating long-haul trucks.
Understanding these criteria will help ensure that sponsored candidates meet the demands of this vital role within Canada’s transportation industry.
Also Read:Â Human Resources Manager Jobs in Canada 2025 with Visa Sponsorship – Apply Now!
Basic Skills Needed
To support the efficient transportation of goods and supplies, truck drivers must have the ability to operate both straight trucks and articulated tractor-trailers.
Ensuring the safety and security of cargo involves properly loading and unloading shipments, as well as securely covering loads with tarps when necessary.
Drivers are responsible for planning their travel routes and schedules, utilizing atlases and other navigation tools to assist with trip planning.
Communication is key, as drivers need to receive instructions from and report back to a central dispatcher.
They may also be required to operate as part of a convoy or in two-person teams for certain shipments.
Additionally, drivers must be capable of conducting thorough vehicle inspections, checking critical components such as lights, tires, refrigeration units, and other essential parts to ensure the vehicle is in safe working order.
Top Programs in Canada for Truck Driver Jobs
Here is a list of popular programs to help you find work as a truck driver with a sponsored visa in Canada.
British Columbia
Truck drivers in Canada can also benefit from the provincial Program offered by British Columbia. For applicants to the entry-level and semiskilled levels of the regional job market, a full-time position in long-haul trucks is required. There are over 400 available jobs.
Long-haul truck drivers are allowed to live in the province for long periods. Learn more about immigration in British Columbia by visiting their website at https://www.immigration.ca/british-columbia-immigration/.
Quebec
Quebec is the leader in truck driver-friendly jobs, with 837 available job ads. According to information on the Quebec government’s website for employment, there are excellent prospects for truck driver employment.
Access the Quebec website at https://www.immigration.ca/en/quebecimmigrationprovincial.html.
Ontario
In July 2019, the Ontario Immigrant Job Offer for Employers In-Demand Skills Stream added the NOC code 7511 for drivers of transport trucks. It was also added to the list of three other professions.
Experienced truck drivers who have been offered employment in Ontario may follow a particular route to permanent residence in Canada. Learn more about immigration at https://www.immigration.ca/en/ontario-immigration.html.
Alberta
Long-haul truckers, another in-demand occupation that the Alberta Immigrant Program offers, have more than 500 jobs on the bank. Truck drivers can access the Alberta Opportunity Stream or Alberta Express Entry.
Manitoba
Employers looking to hire truck drivers in Manitoba must comply with the Federal Labour Market Assessment for Temporary Foreign Workers procedure. Employers can only hire workers outside the LMIA process through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, provided they meet specific requirements, such as recruitment and labor laws compliance.
Visit the Manitoba immigration website at https://www.immigration.ca/en/manitoba-immigration.html to discover more.
Newfoundland and Labrador
It is a province in Canada. It is a province in Canada, Newfoundland, and Labrador.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Labour Market Outlook 2025 report highlights truck driving as an occupation requiring substantial migration to meet job demand. Applicants must apply to the NLPNP’s Express, Entry, or Skilled workers tracks to be eligible employers.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Immigration offers a sub-category for long-haul truck drivers who are already allowed to work in Canada. This job is also eligible for Express Entry in-Demand and Occupation categories. Each category focuses on specific professions.
Nova Scotia
Two jobs targeted by the Nova Scotia Nominee Programme’s Occupations On-Demand stream are Transportation Truck Drivers (NOC 7511). This allows drivers to apply for permanent residency.
This Program could help you get a job as a truck driver in Canada by sponsoring your visa.
Also Read: Government Jobs in Canada 2025 – Open Applications for Immigrants
Canada Truck Drivers’ Wages
Truck drivers are currently paid an hourly wage comparable to the national and provincial averages.
According to Statistics Canada and the Job Bank, the median truck driver’s pay is slightly lower than the national average. It could be $8 higher than the average pay, which is $32 an hour in certain circumstances.
Truck drivers’ wages are expected to rise as labor demand increases over the next few years.
Conclusion
If you’re seeking opportunities to work as a truck driver in Canada with visa sponsorship, especially as an immigrant, you’ve come to the right place. Canada offers several pathways and programs designed to help foreign workers obtain the necessary work permits and immigration status to build a career in the trucking industry.
These programs include:
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Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP): This program allows Canadian employers to hire qualified foreign workers for positions that cannot be filled locally. Truck drivers can apply for temporary work permits through this channel, often with employer sponsorship.
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Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Many provinces have immigration streams targeting skilled workers, including truck drivers, to meet local labor market needs. Candidates nominated by a province may receive expedited processing for permanent residence.
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Express Entry System: Skilled truck drivers who meet eligibility requirements may apply through Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class, which can lead to permanent residency.
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Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program: For those interested in working in Atlantic Canada, this program helps employers recruit and retain skilled workers, including truck drivers, from abroad.
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Agreements and Trade Programs: Canada has trade agreements with various countries that facilitate the movement of workers, including truck drivers, under certain conditions.
These programs help foreign truck drivers obtain work authorization and establish themselves in Canada’s transportation sector. If you’re interested in pursuing one of these options, it’s important to understand the eligibility criteria, application process, and required documentation as discussed in this article.


