Dozens of drivers looking for work had one complaint at a networking event – fleets aren’t hiring truckers who are not experienced.

“If they don’t hire us, how can we gain experience?” one asked during a trucking bootcamp in Brampton, Ont., organized by Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC).

Grab whatever opportunity is available and chalk in time behind the wheel, was the response from fleet and truck training school representatives who were present.

Collecting waste in cities and suburbs, and shunting trailers in yards could be paths leading to the open road for inexperienced truck drivers.

Hundreds of vacancies

“You have to kick and fight and scratch and do everything for yourself,” advised Brandon Muir, district manager, GFL Environmental. The company will put 300 waste collection trucks on the road in a few months time and is looking for drivers.

“If you start with us today, a year from now, they’ll take you. But if you sit for another year and say, I can’t find a job, you’re no closer to doing so than you are today.”

Godwin Harry, Aniel Ramdil and Anmol Singh earned their A/Z licences last year and are hunting for that elusive full-time trucking job. They have been unable to overcome the one-year experience hurdle.

Harry, who has been living off his savings, is keen to haul loads in Canada to gain experience and then start doing cross-border work. “I am willing to work at night, I will take anything,” he said.

Ramdil would prefer short haul work to gain experience. If a fleet hires him for a longhaul job, he’ll like to work in a team with an experienced trucker.

A disappointed Singh questioned if it was worth paying the fees top-notch driving schools charge. “They say don’t go to schools that offer a lower level of training. I paid more money for good training and am not getting hired, what is the point?” he asked.

Experienced driver’s woes

An experienced trucker is also finding it difficult to land a job.

Robert Matkowski dusted off the A/Z licence he earned in 1992, after spending the past 30 years in Poland. Worried about the conflict in neighboring Ukraine and the possible instability, he moved back to Canada with his family last June.

He’s worked as a truck driver in Europe since 2018 and wondered why his European experience does not count. As he watches his savings quickly evaporate, Matkowski is willing to work any job, including night shifts, to support his family.  

The TBDC bootcamp brought together fleets that are hiring inexperienced drivers and rookies who are willing to get their hands dirty.

Skill development

The Erb Group is hiring shunt truck operators. Tessa Janssen, human resources manager, told attendees that those drivers are paid $27 an hour. And there’s an additional premium for afternoon and night shift positions.

GFL’s Muir noted that starting off as a shunt driver helps new truckers garner invaluable backing and manoeuvring skills.

Sandra Graham, Commercial Heavy Equipment Training’s operation manager, urged new drivers to suck it up and get their first year of experience. Night shift work is ideal for rookie drivers to learn their trade as traffic is lighter and there are fewer distractions, she added.

Harry, Ramdil, Singh and Matkowski spoke to recruiters at the bootcamp. They left with business cards in their pockets and a spring in their steps.

Time will tell if they are willing to take the non-traditional jobs on offer and “kick and fight and scratch” to achieve their dreams.