CDL for foreigners

You have to be 21 to drive in the US

 

HI you cannot just go work in the USA or Canada, you need to have a valid work visa, if you were under the age of 32 you may have qualified for the working holiday visa in Canada which would allowed you to drive Semi trucks. In the USA you'd need to obtain a H2b visa, you need a valid work visa to apply for a Social Security number, you need a SSN to apply for a drivers licence. And yes you'll be required to pay a considerable sum of money to attend a CDL school unless you find a company that is willing to train you although you still pay them back via your weekly pay check. In some cases companies can also sponsor you for a green card, known as the EB green card or employment based green card although to qualify for this you'd need to be working in a job that specifies a minimum of a university degree generally in the H1b category.

 

Hallo! Wo ein Wille ist, gibt es einen Weg. Ich hoffe, Sie können finden, was Sie suchen. @blairandgretchen

 

Yes, try the Netherlands……

 

Nothings impossible, however it would be extremely hard to get a H2b visa, to work in the US given the current economic situation, before a transport company could hire foreign workers they need to prove that they've tried to hire locals and cannot find enough workers, the Dept of Labour would then issue them a certificate which allows them to petition the USCIS for visas, this is time consuming and costs money so most companies won't take this pathway. You may find it easier to land a job with H2a visa this is a specific visa used to hire in the agricultural industry mainly used by harvesting contractors and farmers in the peak periods between early spring and early fall, so is of a temporary nature about 8 months at most then you'd have to depart the US. It'd be to late to try applying for the H2a as its now winter season, try again in early March 2024 when employers who've been issued with H2a approval will be looking for workers they are also required to reimburse you for travel expenses.

Best option I think for you is to go with a Canadian company they can and will get you over there, where you can then file for permanent residency, which is actually part of the deal they don't just want you coming over for a short time, Canada uses a points system so if you can score the minimum amount of points you literally guaranteed permanent residency, if you speak either French or English you'll get so many points, having a higher education will score you points also, having travelled and studied in Canada will also score you points, once your in Canada most of the larger companies will generally get you to haul cargo into the USA so you'll still get to drive there anyway, which is why I think the Canada option is the best. Check with the large carriers in Canada, Bison is one that hires foreign workers, Agri Fresh (agrifresh.ca) another, just do a google search its amazing what will turn up. Coming from Germany you'll be used to lots of snow so you'll fit right into the Canadian lifestyle.