If you’re in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, you would have wondered “Did I miss my shot at becoming a truck driver?”
Trucking is often seen as a young person’s career but you aren’t late at all. As long as you meet the physical requirements. At Caledon Truck Driving School, we’ve had students well into their 50s and thriving in their new careers. The industry faces a major shortage across North America, which means companies are actively seeking responsible, new hires.
Physical Requirements For Becoming A Truck Driver In Canada
Requirements are stated on the Government of Canada’s website. They are as follows:
- Pass a medical exam approved by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO)
- Have at least 20/30 vision with both eyes, with or without glasses
- Hear a whisper from five feet away, with or without a hearing aid
- Maintain blood pressure below 140/90 or have it well-managed
- Keep diabetes under control, even if using insulin
- Lift items, climb into trucks, and secure loads when needed
- Handle up to 13-hour driving shifts with good stamina
- Have no severe back issues or limb disabilities that affect driving
- Stay drug and alcohol-free, with pre-employment and random testing
- React quickly and stay alert while driving
Reality of Breaking into Trucking
Most companies look for truckers with a minimum of two years of experience, with some even asking for five years. But plenty hire with 3-6 months of experience, even though the pay might be low.
Your first company will likely be a “training company.” You’ll ride with a trainer for several weeks and gain on-road experience. Most drivers make $40,000 to $45,000 in the first year but the salary jumps to $70,000 by the end of your second year.
We recommend that you stay with your training company for the whole first year. When looking for a new employer, take your time to find the right one. Some companies even cover transition costs like flights, rental cars, hotels, or offer sign-on bonuses.
Life On The Road
Over-the-road (OTR) trucking can be tough but has upsides, especially if you don’t have a family or mortgage tying you down. Most gigs keep you on duty for 2-3 weeks. If you work for 3 months straight, you can get up to 3 weeks off.
If you only want to stay on duty for 3 weeks, you don’t always need to return home. You can ask the company to offer a gig that takes you to a new destination, where you can rest for a few days anywhere in Canada. And when you are ready to return home, you can request a home load to meet friends and family.
Staying OTR will also save rent costs. You can put your furniture and belongings in long-term storage and stay with friends or at a hotel whenever needed.
After getting your AZ or DZ license, you can explore different types of trucking jobs to see what suits you best. You might haul flatbeds, dry vans, reefers (refrigerated loads), tankers, or handle local deliveries. Reefer trucking often pays the most but comes with extra responsibilities like temperature checks and load monitoring. Local delivery jobs pay less but help you build valuable experience quickly, especially if you’re just starting out.
A CDL can truly be your ticket to freedom. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our truck driving school in Brampton.
