mercer transportation

Thank you very much for the info, yeah the limiter laws in ON and QC are ridiculous. I will have to lease a trailer from mercer to start off with unless there is a big demand.. and its worth it to rent my buddies tridem RGN trailer from him. I am currently living in Alberta hauling oversize loads to Texas and back to Alberta as a company driver, But i am moving back to Cambridge, Ontario to put the truck on with Mercer, and be close to my family.

I have never been to NF, but I hear its a pretty nice ride! I prefer running the US because its way more driver friendly then Canada, But im willing to go wherever the money is, so aslong as they can keep me moving than i think it will be a good place for me to work.

 

You already know I'm sure that due to cabotage rules your choice of loads will be much more limited than a US driver while in the US. However you would have the ability to haul inter-provincial but I don't think there is a lot of that freight available. See if your recruiter can hook you up with the agent in Ontario, those guys are pretty nice and can give you a more up to date and complete view of what you can expect. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

I thought those laws had nothing to do with the driver, but the carrier.

 

Generally the rules are based on the citizenship of the driver and on ownership of the truck and trailer. Canadaian driver with canadian truck and trailer but leased to a US company for instance. There are minor exceptions for picking up and delivery domestic freight in Canada that I'm aware of, however there is no need for me to have ever researched any of this within US law since it doesn't apply to US drivers with US trucks.

rules for US
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/redirect.a...ov/trade/cargo_security/carriers/land/how.xml

most relavant excerpt from rules
Q. May a U. S. carrier employ foreign drivers?
A. A United States carrier may employ a foreign driver if the driver is engaged only in the international delivery of goods and cargo to or from the United States. The foreign driver must have an established foreign residence that he or she does not intend to abandon. The foreign driver may not engage in any domestic carriage of goods without employment authorization to work in the U.S.


there are point to point exceptions for US driver in Canada but not widely used, much of it subject to interpretation.
good overview of Canadian cabotage here:

http://www.millerthomson.com/en/pub...-2011/steering-through-canadian-cabotage-laws

 

So I was wrong. Sure not the first time not will it be the last. I wonder if a Canadian get get a work visa? I would guess that's what all those eastern Europeans do.

 

Canada freight pays quite well. I wish I could still haul it but can't because of my truck wheel base. Even though I haven't been up there for several years, I see the higher paying loads for canada on the board all the time.

 

Those rules are not well known. Canadian rules are slightly less restrictive than US, which are simple and have no options available.

As far as work visas, that would only be needed if you were to come into the country for full time, or long term, employment. US, Canada & Mexico allow transportation workers to come and go in the normal course of their job if otherwise allowed entry into the country.

 

So I've been thinking about giving back my lease trailer and buying a good used one (don't like payments). Should I look at a closed tandem for more options like canada? With my light tractor I really haven't had anything I needed a spread for anyways.

 

I wouldn't go with a closed. Every once in a while you get those loads where the spread keeps ya from messing up how you load it. But I would love a low pro step that has a sliding spread. Just haven't been able to find a cheap one that isn't beat to Crap.

 

Ok, I guess I haven't seen any canada loads on the board that really paid over 2.40 anyways so i guess i won't rule out a spread.