Hello fellow Canadians, thinking of buying a dump truck

I've always loved driving, and I am thinking about buying a dump truck.
I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, into my 40's now, single, no kids, looking for a change!
Lived here in Calgary most of my live, born in Toronto, but here since early 1980's.

I took a look on Kijiji.com at dump trucks from old cheap ones to $50K+
Next step is to find the most reliable trucks, look into leasing, insurance rates, look into driving school up off Barlow and Glenmore, and most importantly going hourly rates for drivers because I may just try to get on as a driver, then buy dump truck.

I am wondering what the going rate is for owner/operators in dump trucks!

I read someone say in this forum, $85usd/hour min 4 hours, posted in 2017, somewhat up to date. Up by Royal Oak community of Calgary I saw dump trucks coming and going all day long from that gravel pit. Also snow removal in the winter, perhaps city contracts.

How far back do companies look when hiring drivers?
One fellow told me 5 year abstracts is what they look at, but others say 10 year abstract.

Finally found something juicy!
Alberta Gravel Truck Drivers
Gravel not looking good, wanted something in the city.
Maybe oil patch is where its at.
I know a guy in the program that hauls 18wheeler from Calgary to Edmonton says its pretty cushy job. I should hit up a meeting and talk to him.

 

Thanks for the info, I did a lot of reading last night on this forum, I always thought about getting into trucking, should have done it 5-8 yrs ago. Oh yeah the program well we just have a couple common friends is all, him and me know Bill W. and a doctor named Bob so we run into each other every now and then and we get to chatting. he quite enjoys his run from Calgary to Edmonton. I know another fellow who drives truck down into the USA, he used to have his own company out of Vegas and he's told some short stories of the peoples he has hired and all the non-fluent english speakers in the trucking industry, low balling everything.

I want to stay in the city, but later would probably head over to Vancouver Island once I am setup and retired. I am thinking Victoria area maybe Nainaimo, but I havent seen much of anything on the island outside of the highway from Shwartz Bay Ferry Terminal down to Victoria.

I am now changing gears and looking at starting a reno company, roofing too, havent done any siding.......yet! then like bobcat snow removal perhaps dip into the occasional landscaping job. Had an idea of hotshotting about 8 yrs ago, but if I got the large truck for bobcat and a trailer, I could always dip into that as a side business.