US vs Canadian truck drivers

[newmercman]

The existing oil wells and the tar sands are still going strong, but there's a freeze on new exploration and drilling and that's where a lot of people used to work, that's the biggest problem regarding unemployment from what I gather. There are a lot of places that used to be rammed out with oilfield trucks and equipment that now stand empty. Kindersley SK used to be chok a blok at nights, all the hotel's were full, you couldn't park a smart car along the service roads, even the Walmart parking lot was full of caravans. I went through the other night and there were only a handful of trucks parked there and not one of them was an oilfield truck. There's a lot of yards in AB and SK that are overflowing with very expensive oilfield trucks and equipment standing idle and others that used to be a thriving business now stand empty and abandoned, it's a sad state of affairs.

I just pull box vans, the company I pull for is mostly owner operator, there's around 400 of us and 20 odd company trucks, they're pretty much a load broker, they get work and use us to do it, they take their cut and then pay us as little as they can get away with, as is usual in the trucking industry lol. We haul all kinds of stuff, sorry but I'm not going into specifics, I doubt they would be happy to hear me telling the world what we cart around and for who, but I can tell you, there's nothing exciting.

Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk

[hkloss1]

HI NMM

Is there any money to be made as an owner operator, what sort of money do you guys make with the company you are leased to?
Have you bought a brand new truck or a used one, and if so how old, what mileage?
What truck brand have you chosen, and why?
From what I've noticed people praise Freightliner Cascadia as a reliable truck to buy and cheap parts and labour, but complain about too many of them being on the road.
I thought about giving Canada a try a couple of years ago, then gave up, but now I'm giving it a second thought, and looking for ideas what I could do after getting PR and doing my time of 2 years with one of the dodgy LMIAs provider, providing I find one, as their are as rare these days as hens teeth.

Maybe someone else could provide some info regarding being OO in Canada and how are they doing out there.

Thanks

[newmercman]

I'm not going to start a willy waving contest about money, but in answer to your question, yes there is decent money to be made as an owner operator. There is also a lot of money to be spent as well though, this year I had a starter issue that was intermittent and it ended up costing me three grand, I had a couple of grand ' worth of A/C repairs on both recently and I've just this week put two new Michelins on the front of the one with a driver and this morning I got a phone call saying a bolt seal had gone through one of them, so there's another $500 I may have well set fire to!

I bought one truck brand new, it's a Volvo VNL670, Volvo D13 @455hp with I shift, the other one, which I drive I bought used, it was a year old, it's a Volvo VNL730, D13 @500hp with a 13spd Fuller. The 730 is a mid roof cab with a roof fairing which can be removed if I ever need to move companies and pull grain hoppers, tankers or completely lose the plot and go on flatbed, this was the main reason I went for the mid roof cab, it gives me a lot more flexibility.



Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk

[hkloss1]

Thanks for replying NMM

Yes, running a truck is a very costly business from what I gather, a few days ago saw a video of an OO changing all tyres on his truck, and the bill was over CAD 5K
I hope things work out well for you

[newmercman]

Yeah 5k sounds about right for a full set. The fronts wear at 250-300,000kms, the rears should do 600-800,000kms depending on the tyre and the operation. When you figure out the cost per mile of tyres they are so cheap that saving a hundred bucks or so per tyre by buying a cheaper brand isn't worth bothering with. You would save more money by using thin sliced bread for your sarnies rather than thick sliced!

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[kr79]

Just skimed through this and as newmercman and pat hasler know I spent a lot of time in freightliner dealers.
From what I can see most us based truckers roam round and round a bit like the flip flops do here.
Many will be away for 4-6 weeks and seem content with a couple of days home.
I know people rattle on about the states but from what I saw life for most working class folks was way worse than the UK.

Canada is very different and seems a good compromise to the good bits of the states but a bit of more liberal European thinking.
Also as it's still a dominion you can still get a lot of British goodies and the people are great.

[robinhood_1984]

Just skimed through this and as newmercman and pat hasler know I spent a lot of time in freightliner dealers.
From what I can see most us based truckers roam round and round a bit like the flip flops do here.
Many will be away for 4-6 weeks and seem content with a couple of days home.
I know people rattle on about the states but from what I saw life for most working class folks was way worse than the UK.

Canada is very different and seems a good compromise to the good bits of the states but a bit of more liberal European thinking.
Also as it's still a dominion you can still get a lot of British goodies and the people are great.

A lot of them big fleet wallah's in the US spend weeks and months away from home but are bumming around from one short run to the next with tons of waiting time and if the 'truckersreport' forum is anything to go by, 2000 miles a week (over 7 days!) is good for a lot of them and I've seen figures as low as 1200 miles a week. We've all noticed that as Canadian trucks we're often the last to park in a US truckstop at night and the first to leave in the morning. There are obviously lots of small outfits in the US that don't work that way but life behind the wheel of one of the several tens of thousands of big fleets must be quite grim for a driver just wanting to crack on with the job, make money and go home. But then, when you look at the typical example of American truck driver you come across, they're bottom dwelling pond life anyway.
Definitely glad Canada had the open door rather than the US. There's stuff I like about America but after travelling to every corner of the country, I can honestly say I'm well and truly glad I don't live there and apart from not liking the Canadian winters and the southern US appealing at that time of year, if there was an open door or a green card with my name on it, I'd probably just throw it in the bin and stay put in New Brunswick.
I miss the hourly pay/day rate of the UK and the financial certainty that came with it but apart from that I like living in Canada and as you say, with Canada you get a lot of the good bits about North America, without much of the crud of the US.

[newmercman]

I found that I get home more in Canada, I could probably earn more money by running south, even though the pikes are quite lucrative, but it's not enough extra to justify the time away from home for me. Things have been a bit quiet lately, so the pikes have been thin in the ground and I've been running out to BC, I'm still leaving Sunday evening after a nice roast dinner and this week I've managed to get home late Thursday night, I haven't been hanging about this week, but I've been running legal, as always and I've clocked up 3000miles, so a pretty good week all in all. I ran out light and came back heavy, but still managed 8.9mpg for the trip and because it's not too hot up here at night, I haven't had to idle to stop myself melting at night, unlike poor old Wire who has been in Laredo in 40 odd degrees heat burning diesel like it's going out of fashion.

I don't have a problem going to the US, destination wise it's so much better, even though I love BC, it's bloody hard work getting there in the winter and the caravan club try their best to make the summer a nightmare too with their 60kms through the bends or at the bottom of a hill and 120kms on the straights and passing lanes behavior and the BC runs are not my usual work. Running across the Prairies week in and week out is mind numbing and just pure evil in winter, I don't enjoy a minute of it to be honest, I turn on the ignition and turn off my brain until I park the truck back in the yard at the end of a trip, there's no living the dream anymore, it's just a job now.

Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk

[bullitt]

......there's no living the dream anymore, it's just a job now.....

And THAT is an excellent quote!! Rikki should put that on a banner across the top of the expat page. Proper honesty there Mark!

[newmercman]

......there's no living the dream anymore, it's just a job now.....

And THAT is an excellent quote!! Rikki should put that on a banner across the top of the expat page. Proper honesty there Mark!

Why thank you Rik!

Just remember that it's only my opinion and more importantly I'm comparing what I do now to punching a blinged up Peterbilt up and down the road to California, Florida, Houston, New York etc like I used to. It may be "just a job" but it's a whole lot better than sitting in traffic on British motorways or stuck in an RDC waiting room listening to BS from hiviz wearing knuckle draggers lol

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[bullitt]

Mate, I take my hat off to you for doing it! I still think it is a brutally honest quote!

[hutpik]

It seems sad to say but that quote could apply to the majority of transport nowadays.

[newmercman]

The fun and friendship has gone out of the job now. A case in point, this week I had to pick up a trailer from a guy who had broken down, he had done a proper job and there was a hole you could put a fist through in the side of the block, anyway I gave the driver a ride home.

He has been working here a year and a half and I was the first driver that he'd spoken to for any length of time. He was a decent bloke, 50, been driving all his working life, likes a beer or two, someone you would have a good laugh with during a meal or a weekend somewhere and in 18 months I'm the only driver out of the 400 plus on the firm that he's had a conversation with and he never had much choice as he was sat in my passenger seat for 1200miles!

That speaks volumes on why the job's [zb]ed now.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[ChrisArbon]

Newmercman is right about the company where we both now work. They are the biggest bunch of miseries that I have ever come across. They only talk to you if they need to know something; otherwise they are totally anti-social. They rarely put their hand up when you pass, even on a two-lane highway. Most of them seem to be in fear of doing something wrong or upsetting someone in the office; in case they are punished by a loss of miles. And nearly all of these drivers are owner/operators and should be enjoying things by being their own boss but none know the meaning of the word: craic.

[newmercman]

I like the ones that look right at you as you pass and wave and don't return the gesture, hopefully they see my extended middle finger before they avert their gaze!

The turnpike gang are pretty friendly, they'll always have a chat and help out if you're poncing around with trailers. Others will wave at me when I'm running single, but blank me when I'm running doubles, there's a couple of distinctive trucks, so I know it's the same drivers.

Weirdest firm I've ever worked at, the biggest too so maybe that's something to do with it, maybe not, Big Fright was the same, it must be a Mennonite thing. They're scared to talk to heathen dogs like us Chris.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[kr79]

Firm I work at is the same I speak to about four drivers and I knew three of them before I worked here.
Go in the cafes near our yard and they will all be on separate tables or all sitting out side on there own.

[Pat Hasler]

The spirit of the job has long gone. Back in England we had all good friends, on nights I knew every driver on the CB and they all knew me. On days we made a point of getting to know others, we spent the nights out in truck stops and had a few beers and a joke. Here in the USA I hardly ever use the CB, I might chat to some of our drivers in the yard as we sit around. I go to a bar or diner with a couple of guys, Rich Browne (Longwayround) for instance, him being English and both like finding English food and beer gives us the urge to enjoy taking the pee at the locals.
Out on the road I can't be bothered with the idiots, the CB goes off and I am tuned to BBC radio or Heart FM LOL.

[ChrisArbon]

Several times in my career, I've thought that I'd cracked it and was in the right place at the right time. Good work, good motor and good money. But every time it has somehow gone wrong and drifted away. The early days at Big Freight when all the Brits were coming over and everything seemed so easy. The time at Flying Eagle when all the new trucks arrived and it seemed like all my mates came and drove them. But nothing has ever stayed the same for long. A bit like that Kevin Johnson song from the 70s: Rock and roll I gave you the best years of my life, but I was always one step behind you.

[newmercman]

The old saying "I've never started a bad job, but I've quit a few" often rings true.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[ChrisArbon]

The old saying "I've never started a bad job, but I've quit a few" often rings true.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

A bit like: "I never been to bed with an ugly woman but I sure woke up with a few."

[newmercman]

Hahaha you're not wrong

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[flat to the mat]

......there's no living the dream anymore, it's just a job now.....

And THAT is an excellent quote!! Rikki should put that on a banner across the top of the expat page. Proper honesty there Mark!

Absolute bullcrap ."living the dream" refers to a lifestyle rather than a job . Expats that have been here a while , NMM Chris Arbon Robinhood and relative newcomers like Russ JP enjoy the opportunities and freedom far beyond anything on offer from Britain . I'm fairly certain we're all hard grafters who've taken the chance and succeeded while some who expect something for nothing have failed , and bitched and moaned to every available ear about it . Nobody of sound mind could for one minute consider living in a truck as being "the dream " but if it's a means to an end why not ?I have an English mate close by who came over in 04 and is constantly broke, but every time I sort out a well paying job for him he'll find an excuse for not taking or applying for it , some guys just don't want to work to better themselves .
I challenge any expat truckers settled in Canada to give good reason why they're not "living the dream"(personal issues aside) , here or there >> it's a no brainer . No need for any banners shirley

[newmercman]

FTTM in my case I came here to Canada with the intention of trucking around and seeing the sights for the duration of my TWP and then going back to England, so my first couple of years out here were living my dream in the trucking sense.

Things changed after the first couple of years, along with my definition of living the dream, so yeah, you're right in that respect, I'm still living the dream, it just doesn't involve mega trips all over the place anymore.

I remember spending a weekend in the Flying J at Saskatoon n one of my first trips here, I had been up to Ft Nelson BC and was on my way to the US and short on hours, so I did a reset. There was a bunch of Brits off Kindersley and Edge hanging out there too and it was a good weekend, I stopped in there just now to curl one off before parking at my delivery point for the night and couldn't get out of there quick enough, the drivers hanging out in the TV lounge looked like a bunch of vagrants and are the last people I'd want to spend time with. Nothing has changed, it's still the same as it was 8yrs ago, but I've changed, so it doesn’t have the same vibe anymore.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[ChrisArbon]

Don't get me wrong. I'd rather be working out of Canada than anywhere else in the World. It's just that after more than 40 years of lorry driving, I think I should have gotten off the bottom rung of the ladder. But soon as I think that I've cracked it; something goes wrong and I am back to square-1.
The hours have always been long, always hard graft and the money has never been for nothing. But "Living the dream" for me is dreaming about retirement: loading up the Mack and parking it on a beach down in the Baja. Trouble is: with my lack of pension plans, I'll be back to long-haul after just one Winter.

[bullitt]

...Absolute bullcrap ."living the dream" refers to a lifestyle rather than a job . Expats that have been here a while , NMM Chris Arbon Robinhood and relative newcomers like Russ JP enjoy the opportunities and freedom far beyond anything on offer from Britain . I'm fairly certain we're all hard grafters who've taken the chance and succeeded while some who expect something for nothing have failed , and bitched and moaned to every available ear about it . Nobody of sound mind could for one minute consider living in a truck as being "the dream " but if it's a means to an end why not ?I have an English mate close by who came over in 04 and is constantly broke, but every time I sort out a well paying job for him he'll find an excuse for not taking or applying for it , some guys just don't want to work to better themselves .
I challenge any expat truckers settled in Canada to give good reason why they're not "living the dream"(personal issues aside) , here or there >> it's a no brainer . No need for any banners shirley

Why is it "bullcrap"?? I think it is an excellent quote! I still do!! Whats wrong with thinking that its an excellent quote then?
I don't profess to know the in`s and outs of life in Canada, I just think Marks quote is catchy , honest and to the point! I like it!
Oh....."and don't call me Shirley"!

[JIMBO47]

someone mentioned the "patch" anyway I'm working with a couple o guys who were driving s east sk on patch work and were laid off early last yr .....well they were at different truck companies(but for same oilfield company ) and both said they were on about $35+ an hr (or $47 ish on % work per hr),now here is the thing both got callbacks last week and were told MAX wage$24 an hr take it or leave it!.

[newmercman]

The ladder only has one rung Chris, that's the problem, so you're also on the top rung if it makes you feel any better!

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[hkloss1]

OK, so after spending some time watching us/Canadian truckers videos on YouTube, I'm coming to a conclusion that actually US truck drivers have it better.
I know Pat and some others here might disagree, but here is my reasoning:

1. Larger country, bigger population density, larger population meaning more companies to deal with, more opportunities to find loads that take you back home sooner, I'm talking here mostly of OOs, but this also applies to company drivers, although they are more at a mercy of their despatchers.
2. No need to go across the border to Canada, as there is plenty to do in the US alone, when in Canada, an over the road driver will have his options limited if he's not able for some reason to cross the border.
So, if you don"t have to cross the border you don't have to waste time, sometimes many hours to have your load and documents checked, for which you get paid as OO or paid very little as a company driver.
3. So many Canadian drivers complain about Canadian weather conditions saying if they could only live south of the border.... Weather wise, say Florida, California.
4. There are some very well paying jobs in the US if you are determined to find one and willing to relocate to where these jobs are.
5. Health care, not sure how exactly it works in the US, being private health system, but I gather as long as you pay your yearly contributions you get a very good quality health care, without the need to wait for treatments as it is in Canada or even the UK.
6. It seems to me US drivers stay out many weeks at a time on the road, or even months, but I guess if Canadians can be home more often then their US counterparts, the same could be done for US drivers especialy if they are OOs, and able to plan their work and home time more efficiently.
7. Everything is cheaper in the US, and they are getting paid in a stronger currency, probably, roughly the same cents per mile as Canadian drivers.
8. Canadians can only reload in the US, can not deliver within the US, which limits their earnings potential.

Fell free to take it all apart.

Cheers

[newmercman]

More loads and more companies mean more competition, translated that means less money.

Lots of places to pick up and deliver to, true, but that also means a lot of short hops and because of the more loads situation, that means more delays, translated that means less money.

Because of less money, more time needs to be spend on the road, so less home time.

Health care? Seriously! That sounds like trolling to me.

Sent from my SM-T805W using Tapatalk

[robinhood_1984]

OK, so after spending some time watching us/Canadian truckers videos on YouTube, I'm coming to a conclusion that actually US truck drivers have it better.
I know Pat and some others here might disagree, but here is my reasoning:

1. Larger country, bigger population density, larger population meaning more companies to deal with, more opportunities to find loads that take you back home sooner, I'm talking here mostly of OOs, but this also applies to company drivers, although they are more at a mercy of their despatchers.
As Nmm says, this usually just means they jump about doing silly short runs with huge amounts of pratting about at each leg, covering what distance I usually would in 2 and a half or 3 weeks in 4.
2. No need to go across the border to Canada, as there is plenty to do in the US alone, when in Canada, an over the road driver will have his options limited if he's not able for some reason to cross the border.
So, if you don"t have to cross the border you don't have to waste time, sometimes many hours to have your load and documents checked, for which you get paid as OO or paid very little as a company driver.
Crossing the border is generally very painless, especially at the smaller crossings, out of New Brunswick for example where I'm often the only truck there, or at worst there'll be 5 or 6 and you're across in anything from 20 seconds to 10 minutes if theres a few in front of you.
3. So many Canadian drivers complain about Canadian weather conditions saying if they could only live south of the border.... Weather wise, say Florida, California.
California can be [zb] in the winter, especially coming from the east over the Donner Pass, its miles and miles of endless snow chaining. Florida is fine, especially coming from Canada as its the best part of 3 days each way, so a guaranteed 3 days driving because we have to go back to Canada, we're not allowed to waste our time doing crap stuff 4 or 5 hundred miles down the road only to spend 6 hours loading, 3 hours waiting to be given the next load, followed by another 5 hours to load.
4. There are some very well paying jobs in the US if you are determined to find one and willing to relocate to where these jobs are.
Same with any country, Canada included. But don't forget that better pay is only better pay if it doesn't all go down the pan with living costs incurred with moving to said location. Ie moving to London wouldn't be a good financial move if you're only on a few pounds an hour more but your mortgage or rent far exceeds the extra income you make.
5. Health care, not sure how exactly it works in the US, being private health system, but I gather as long as you pay your yearly contributions you get a very good quality health care, without the need to wait for treatments as it is in Canada or even the UK.
Yes, unless you pass your coverage cap or get seriously sick and get kicked off the companies plan. Pat Hasler will tell you of people he knows in the US who've been diagnosed with cancer and a month later their health insurance has been cancelled and they're left to die with no way of ever affording their own treatment and medication.
6. It seems to me US drivers stay out many weeks at a time on the road, or even months, but I guess if Canadians can be home more often then their US counterparts, the same could be done for US drivers especialy if they are OOs, and able to plan their work and home time more efficiently.
All depends on the company and how they operate. I prefer being in Canada and doing things on a round trip basis, take a load out, bring one back and then go home for a couple of days. Not endless bumming around which almost always ends up earning you less money due to the unpaid times of tipping, loading and waiting for orders etc. A 3000km outward trip, followed by a 3000km return trip is far better than what most Americans are doing.
7. Everything is cheaper in the US, and they are getting paid in a stronger currency, probably, roughly the same cents per mile as Canadian drivers.
Its all relative, I live in Canada, get paid in Canadian dollars and as such spend most of my money in Canada. The current exchange rate means that I generally spend FA in the US unless its on small inexpensive things but who cares, I just take the vast majority of my food with me, which is quite easy as I'm generally home every weekend anyway.
8. Canadians can only reload in the US, can not deliver within the US, which limits their earnings potential.
It greatly increases my earning potential. However far in to the US I go, I'm guaranteed to have to come back again and as we're on mileage pay, all I'm bothered about is doing as many miles as possible within as short a space of time, ie making cost efficient use of my time.

Fell free to take it all apart.

Cheers