New to Canada and thinking about driving

EDIT: I posted this on the Canada board but thought I would post it here too.

Hello everyone!

I have to change my career (I'll mention why in a minute) due to medical reasons and I have decided to narrow down to two fields, IT/Computer Science or Trucking.

Why? I was in the military and due to a few injuries I had to be shown the door, it is what it is. It's nothing that should medically keep me from driving. So basically I've had to hit the reset button on my life at 30, which I'm excited about.

I wanted be a trucker and become and owner operator when I was younger. I've liked trucks since I was little, love driving, and loved the idea of running what would essentially my own business. Anyway, priorities changed and I joined the Army. The reason I've thought about trucking again is that during a tour in Korea I ended up driving a large transport truck with a trailer a lot. I loved it, the travelling, the driving, and seeing a country a different way. I think I could do well at this whole trucking thing since I ended up driving through Seoul during rush hour a few times and didn't kill anyone.

I've done a lot of research in the past, but that's while I was still living in America. I have a good idea of what kind of companies I should avoid, but I'm lost about what I should I do up here in Canada. From what I've gather there a few I should look at and ones I should avoid. I was thinking of Schneider since they offer CDL training. Has anyone here gone through that route? What companies are good for a newb?

I've read a lot of drivers in Canada think American drivers are run too hard. Does that mean in Canada a driver can expect to be out less? I would love to have home time (who doesn't?). My dream would be able to be out for 3-5 days a week, is this possible to do if I run regionally? I would like to end up in flatbed or hazmat, how could I end up doing that?

I'm married with an awesome wife (the Canadian of the two of us) who has a stable career and whats me to pursue whatever I like to do. I've told her that in the first 2-3 years of driving I could be gone a lot and she is okay with it. We have no plans on having kids either. We are currently in the Ottawa area.

I would love hear any advice you could give me. What should I look out for, companies, schools, etc. Any advice is welcome with open arms.

After I get a few years under my belt I would like to go the O/O route, I'll ask about that down the road if I end up trucking since that's a whole other can of worms.

Thanks in advance.

 

Thanks for your input! I went to a school today to check it out and liked what I saw. Say what you will about a drivers shortage but I found a lot of it to be true today.

I can cover it no problem, I have money saved up anyway so I'm set to go. For some people its good but I don't like the idea of being tied to a certain company because they paid for my ticket. I think its great but for myself I'm not comfortable with it.

I was discharged because I messed up my hip. Climbing up and down helicopters day in and day out for years will do that too you. It shouldn't be an issue as long as I'm not flat bedding. I can do what everyone else can (minus running a long distance), but doing what a soldier does.....not so much.

 

Thanks for some solid advice, input, and sharing your experiences.

I can commiserate with your wife completely. I had back pain while I was in Korea, it was pretty severe and I was limping for a bit, but got better over time. Doc just kept sending me to physical therapy. About a year later my doc is starting to PCS and I get a new one. New doc finds it odd that I'm still having pain in my back and decides to get an X-Ray done. Turns out I had compression fractures in three vertebrae, but for a year my old doc told me I damaged a muscle. I wanted to throw a few four letter words at my old doc because he was out-processing and I would seem him time to time. But, I was an E-5 and he was a Major, that wouldn't have worked out well for me. I was fuming for a solid week.

There is a regional tanker here that does Auto and Aviation work. Great equipment and I would be regional. Fingers crossed. Like I said, I want to do specialty stuff to try and make a few more bucks. I'll look at flat bed too. I don't think there are any in my area but I'll keep an eye out.

Thanks for your advice and input Jazz1.

I like playing with computers (typing this on one I just built not too long ago) and have thought about IT for a long time. I have friends that work in IT or are Software Engineers and their work just seems fascinating. If you work at it 130k is easy to come by have a degree and a few certs. I'm surprised your buddy hasn't filled those seats.

When I was 19 I worked at a Psych Hospital (the stories I could tell) and from that I really learned how important mental health is. People shouldn't be afraid to get help, especially in this crazy and complex world.

Everyone goes through rough patches in life, sometimes someone needs more help than others and that's okay. A two day course for mental health first aid may not be the best, but hey, it's a start. It makes me happy to see mental health is taken more seriously in modern society.

Edit: If anyone is going through a rough patch and happens to see this, go get some help. Its easy and it makes you brave. Get off the road and focus on fixing you. You wouldn't suck up a broken arm would you? If you have no idea how to get help I'll give you a hand. PM me and if you want you can send me your name and number and I'll help you out or at least give you an ear.

Your HR rep is either delusional or his boss has a sick sense of humor.

 

Nice! I finally built my dream computer for sim racing. I have a ####pit with VR and its toooo much fun.