Average salary as a truck driver in Canada?

Question

Hi,
presently in german television you see a lot of TV series concerning emigration (among others) to Canada. In two cases they worked in Canada as truck drivers and they said, that you earn good money with this job and that you could live quite good in comparison with the money you earn in Germany.
But they never tell what they really earn and how long they have to work for it!
Can somebody tell me the minimum, average and maximum salary in Canada for a truck driver and if it's true what they say...

Any truck drivers here?

Thank you for your answers / information.

Answer 1

I'm a Canadian trucker. Now people are going to tell you good points and bad points about working here in this industry... and I can do both. But I won't. I'll give you facts and figures and you can decide for yourself.

As a brand new driver, you'll probably start out at about 30cents/mile. You'll probably end up at a large company with alot of contracts so they'll keep you running. Places like Challenger, Schneider and Werner have training programs that allow you to get more experience behind the wheel before you go on your own.

I averaged around $3000/month, but not much hometime. If you want to be a long-hauler then you won't be home much, but it's difficult for new drivers to get local work.

Most of your runs will be into the USA as Canada only runs are reserved for experienced people that have criminal records or a disability that disallows them from entering the US.

Also most large companies have newer equipment. I know Challenger keeps their trucks 3 years or newer, don't know about the others.

The max you can earn is determined by how much you drive.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

I'm not a truck driver...although I know plenty of them.

Unless you have plenty of Canadian experience, you sure as hell won't get rich driving truck.

Also, you're the wrong ethnicity to drive truck in Canada...the bottom of the barrel in that industry are newcomers from India/Pakistan. Note that these people will work for the least amount of money...and there are PLENTY of them.

After a few years experience you can expect to make $35-45K annually, this amount would be taxed at around 18%...which turns out to be not very good money. The poverty line for a 4 person family in Toronto is $35K/year. A decent 2 bedroom flat will cost about $8000+ a year.

The people I know that DO make money are folks that own several trucks and lease them out...that can come with its own set of headaches.

A decent living in Canada starts at around $60K pre-tax dollars.

Answer 3

Trucker Salary Canada

Answer 4

stay where you are it is crap they starve you
you might be lucky to get paid $600 per week
but they dont tell you if you do not live around the border with the usa you dont get home
you go out for 2 weeks usually toronto south then back to toronto then south then toronto then south then toronto home for 2 days then back for 2 weeks
it is not worth it
i have driven most of my life when i stopped in '86 i was making more than when i came back in '97
and the reason is all these young drivers do not want a union so they get no money wages should be
$1500 to $2500 per week
then you are responsible for everything for you truck the employer nothing
i did not mind doing the circle check but now there is a special way to hook up the trailer you do your check a certain way

an ex driver

dint do it not worth it

Answer 5

Most companies want you to buy the truck..SWhy not visit Canada > and check us out. The Olympics are comming to BC. Llots of work for skilled peoplle.Driving not a good way to make money here.

Answer 6

hey i'm not a truck driver and don't plan to.do you know why? read the answer above, he is dead on give him the points. working for a forestry contractor i hear drivers and owner drivers say that they made more money 20 years ago.