Transport Truck Drivers

Nature of work

Transport truck drivers operate heavy trucks to transport goods and materials over urban, interurban, provincial, and international routes. They work for transportation, manufacturing, distribution and moving companies, and trucking employment service agencies, or they may be self-employed. This group also includes drivers of special purpose trucks and shunters who move trailers to and from loading docks within trucking yards or lots.

Job duties

Long-haul transport truck drivers:

• Use and drive primarily tractor-trailer, long-combination vehicle and straight-body trucks weighing over 4500 kg to transport goods and materials over long distances.
• Plan trip logistics and get required documentation to transport goods.
• Inspect vehicle systems, equipment, and accessories likes tires, lights and turning signals, brakes, and cold storage before, during, and after trips.
• Make sure cargo is secured properly according to safety requirements and follow safety procedures for carrying dangerous goods.
• Get special permits and other documents required to move cargo on international routes.
• Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled and fuel consumption.
• Administer bills of lading and manually or electronically maintain logbooks.
• Communicate with dispatcher, other drivers and customers using communication devices and on-board computers.
• May carry out emergency roadside repairs.
• May drive as part of a two-person team or convoy.
• May transport hazardous products or dangerous goods.

Short-haul and local transport truck drivers:

• Use and drive primarily straight trucks to transport goods and materials mainly on local routes and short inter-urban routes.
• Inspect vehicle before, during, and after trips and oversee all aspects of vehicle like condition of equipment and loading and unloading of cargo.
• May drive special purpose trucks like tow trucks, dump trucks, hydrovac trucks, or cement mixing trucks.

Sample job titles

• fuel oil truck driver
• long haul truck driver
• moving van driver
• oil transport driver
• short haul truck driver
• tow truck driver
• tractor-trailer truck driver
• transport driver
• truck driver
• truck owner operator

Skills

• You should enjoy driving and be able to function under minimal supervision. You must be alert, responsible, and self-motivated. An awareness of safety is important. You must also get along well with people, as drivers often deal directly with customers. For some jobs, you should be willing to drive over extended periods of time and long distances. Long-haul drivers, especially, must have good map-reading skills and remain calm when driving in unfamiliar territory and navigating congested city traffic.

Job requirements

• High school is usually required.
• On-the-job-training is provided.
• An accredited driver training course of up to three months duration, through a vocational school or community college, may be required.
• A Class 3 or D licence is required to drive straight-body trucks.
• A Class 1 or A licence is required to drive long combination vehicles.
• Air brake endorsement (Z) is required for drivers who operate vehicles equipped with air brakes.
• Transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) certification is required for drivers who transport hazardous products or dangerous goods.
• Additional licensing endorsement or certification may be required to drive articulated trucks.

Other considerations

• Movement to supervisory positions or to non-driving jobs like driver trainer, safety officer, or truck dispatcher is possible with additional training or experience.

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

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