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Truck Drivers  (NOC 7411)
Annapolis Valley Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

Truck drivers operate heavy trucks to transport goods and materials over urban, interurban, provincial and international routes. They are employed by transportation companies, manufacturing and distribution companies, moving companies and employment service agencies, or they may be self-employed. This unit group also includes shunters who move trailers to and from loading docks within trucking yards or lots.

bulk goods truck driver, dump truck driver, flatbed truck driver, logging truck driver, long haul truck driver, moving van driver, shunt truck driver, tow truck driver, truck driver, truck driver, heavy truck, truck driver, tractor-trailer.

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Long-haul truck drivers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Operate and drive straight or articulated trucks, weighing over 4600 kg with three or more axles, to transport goods and material to destinations
  • Oversee all aspects of vehicles, such as condition of equipment, loading and unloading, and safety and security of cargo
  • Perform pre-trip inspection of vehicle systems and equipment such as tires, lights, brakes and cold storage
  • Perform emergency roadside repairs
  • Obtain special permits and other documents required to transport cargo on international routes
  • Record cargo information, distance travelled, fuel consumption and other information in log book or on on-board computer
  • Communicate with dispatcher and other drivers using two-way radio, cellular telephone and on-board computer
  • May drive as part of a two-person team or convoy
  • May transport hazardous products or dangerous goods.
Line-haul and local truck drivers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Operate and drive straight trucks to transport goods and materials over urban and short inter-urban routes
  • May drive lighter, special purpose trucks such as tow trucks, dump trucks, hydrovac trucks or cement mixing trucks
  • Perform pre-trip inspection and oversee all aspects of vehicles such as condition of equipment, and loading and unloading of cargo.
Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Berwick, Bridgetown, Hantsport, Kentville, Middleton, Windsor, Wolfville

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Truck Drivers in Annapolis Valley Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

Local Employment Potential Information

Table on the employment potential for Truck Drivers in Annapolis Valley Region as well as in the rest of the Nova Scotia.
Location Employment Potential Release Date
Annapolis Valley Region Good 2011-10-11

Currently the chances of qualified Truck Drivers finding employment are considered to be good in the local area. The main reason why the employment potential is Good in the local area is that there continues to be a shortage of long haul truck drivers locally, provincially and nationally. This is mainly due to the increase use of truck transportation to replace other transportation options, tighter US border security, long-hours away from home and other difficult working conditions. This occupation would only be considered Fair for short haul drivers as the supply and demand situations appear to be much more in balance with many truckers wanting to leave long-haul and move to short haul and the fact that the occupation is much more dependent on cyclical and seasonal industries such as construction, landscaping, etc. This was supported by a significant number (100+) of advertised job openings during 2010 almost all of which were for tractor-trailer drivers at a variety of employers.

The truck driving population is also aging which is creating a lot more jobs to become available with the majority of jobs tending to be full-time. Employers continue to look at expanded hiring through non-traditional sources including persons with disabilities, minorities, underemployed, social assistance recipients, etc. Due to the large and steady number of opportunities available locally, there is increasing turnover of drivers from employer to employer (rather than out of the profession) based on things such as compensation. Another factor contributing to the shortage of qualified truck drivers in Nova Scotia and across North America is the tightened border security which increased the level of regulation and documentation required from truckers. Insurance and fuel prices, while a significant issue in recent years have now somewhat subsided. A high Canadian dollar can be a major issue for Canadian truckers due to the impact on decreasing Canadian manufacturing shipments but also from increasing competition by US carriers. Also as trucking firms from other provinces have a harder time competing in the US, they become more focused on the domestic market and thus compete more in NS.

Most long haul drivers get paid by the mile. Specific skills that are highly desired for this occupation include good organizational skills, the ability to work independently, ability to follow instructions, problem solving and patience.

Most employers require the following: Driver's License (Class 1 or A), Air Brake (Z) Endorsement, Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Certificate and WHMIS Certificate. Many employers are looking for 1-2 years of experience, a clean driving abstract (due to insurance costs), clean criminal record, ability to work long hours and for candidates to be over the age of 25 years. However, the age criteria is slackening and most companies and insurance providers have moved down towards the 21 years of age minimum. Still, some companies are hesitant to hire very young drivers for other reasons (maturity, sustainability, etc). The 30-45 year old married driver is still the prime candidate. Many of the larger companies are even requiring five years of experience in the field as a result of high insurance costs. Other common employment conditions for truck drivers are heavy lifting (up to 45 kg), keeping driver logs and shift work including nights and weekends.

In addition to employment opportunities locally, opportunities may exist in other areas of the province or in other regions of the country. People who are able to work elsewhere may want to research opportunities for this occupation in other labour markets within Nova Scotia and across the country. The future employment outlook for Truck Drivers in Nova Scotia is expected to be fair over the next 5 years.

Additional information on Truck Drivers (opportunities in other areas, training, who hires, current job openings, statistics and other information), is available on other parts of this web site.

[ Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]
Please consult the Nova Scotia and Canada tabs for more useful information related to outlook.