Laid off.. booo. ..

I think you have to prove that you are looking for jobs simply to even receive unemployment checks.

 

There was a time when EI were real sticklers demanding 10 applications to be filled out weekly. This was at a time of HIGH unemployment. Not the case today. I'm sure the OP could secure employment as a driver if push comes to shove, just may not be job of his liking.
I did OTR for 3 years during high unemployment. Most of the drivers at that job were only doing OTR until our cherry picked jobs returned. In my area scant few will do OTR other than greenhorns. There are plenty of short haul jobs in forest industry...currently. NAFTA could change things.