Alberta Gravel Truck Drivers

Doesn't even cover a decent wage and fuel. It's so bad, I have an ad on KIJIJI for drivers and east Indians are even sending in resumes. Everyone of them had dump truck experience. Thank god we don't have dump trucks.

 

$150 is a stretch right now. 4 yrs ago you could get that in northern Alberta. Not now.

 

I know a guy who owns 4 trucks. Made a killing back then now he's fighting to stay afloat. Upgraded his fleet at the tail end of the boom.

 

Don't talk yourself into running for $80/hr. long distance or short distance your truck is still running. Wear and tear and everything else still happens.

 

Just wanting to see what others think about my situation. I'm a woman and I'm currently a school bus driver with a class 2 license, I don't have my Q endorsement yet. I'm considering getting my class 1 this summer as I want to upgrade my career and get into better paying work. But it looks like finding a class 1 job is going to be difficult as a new driver. I'm considering going to CCA or Derek Brown's in Calgary for training. Problem with being a school bus driver is that school buses are auto transmission and I never learn a standard, even in my personal vehicle. I wondered if I could get my Q endorsement and some how learn to drive a standard (I know the shifting is different in semi's) but if I could also jump into a class 3 truck and wait on the class 1 ?? Thanks for any advice.

 

Don't know if you are aware but a class 3 would be a downgrade since a class 2 already allows operation of any vehicle requiring a class 3 license (minus air brakes since you said you need the Q endorsement). Personally I would go for the class 1. Not learning standard in a car would actually be beneficial because trucks don't shift at all like a car. If you try to shift a tractor trailer like a car you are going to trash that transmission pretty quickly.

 

Thanks for the advice, I know the class 3 is a downgrade from the class 2, but thought because I haven't driven a "real semi" (school bus is very different and easier) that I would have to go through different training to learn a different type of semi truck. Much more gauges and things to learn on other semi trucks compared to a bus. And then there are the air brakes, don't have a clue about all that. Some school buses have air brakes, but wasn't forced to learn about it. I started with the school bus to see if I even enjoyed driving such a large vehicle.