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Professional truck driving is a blend of work and lifestyle. Your truck can become both your office and your home away from home, equipped with all the amenities needed for the long-haul drives you will undertake.

While your work will primarily involve transporting goods across North America, you will be required to do some work at the point of pickup and delivery, which may also include heavy lifting.

Companies seeking professional drivers tend to look for the following qualities:

• Strong organizational skills
• High school diploma or equivalency
• Superior communication skills
• Excellent navigation skills and ability to plan routes
• Strong customer service skills
• Adaptability and ability to take on challenges as they come

You must also be able to handle the lifestyle of a professional driver, where you can be away from home for long periods.

You may also be required to assist in loading and unloading cargo, so your ability to lift heavy objects will also be depended upon.

The average starting salary for an Entry Level Professional Driver is $40,000 to $55,000 per year. The average salary for a long haul truck driver is $70,000 to $85,000 per year. (Source - Indeed  updated at November 1, 2022) but your earnings can grow based on your years experience. Class 1 drivers or Class 3 drivers can also see increased salaries based on specializing in certain materials.

Definitely. As you grow with a company, opportunities will become available to you. These positions can include:

• Dispatchers
• Management positions
• Trainers
• Foremen and supervisors

Part of being funded by Employment & Skills Training, the student is required to have a Letter of Intent with a trucking firm so that once you complete the 6 week program you should have a job waiting for you.

If you are not funded then we suggest after you complete your First Class driver training, we recommend contacting recruitment agencies in Winnipeg as well as professional driving organizations. You can also look online at general (e.g. indeed.com) and industry-specific (e.g. TruckingCareers.ca) employment websites. Another option is to join professional driving associations that can provide you with additional career services.

We also have some trucking firms that contact us who are looking for entry level truck drivers so there is that option as well.

1. Complete a Medical with your doctor or a walk in clinic (if you do not have a doctor). The form which can be obtained from a MPI Service Centre or any Autopac Agent has to be completed by the doctor and submitted to a MPI Service Centre. You will not be issued an Authorized Instruction Permit until MPI has reviewed your medical report. So even if you have passed your knowledge test, MPI will only issue the learners after reviewing your medical. So it's important that you get your medical done as soon as possible.
2. Complete your Class 1 or 3 knowledge test. This is called an Authorization Instruction Permit. This is one of the learner's license that you will need. The manual to study from is: The Professional Drivers Handbook which you can get from any MPI Service Centre or Autopac Agent for $10.00 plus GST. Once you feel you are ready to do the test call MPI to book your test appointment. The test cost - $10.00
3. Complete your Air Brake test. This is called the Air Brake Endorsement. This is the second learner's license that you will need. The manual to study from is: Air Brake Manual which you can pick up at the same time as your Professional Drivers Manual. The cost is $10.00 plus GST. Once you feel you are ready to do the test call MPI to book your test appointment. The test cost is $10.00