Episode Description
In this episode, I'm speaking with Ramon Calanza, who has worked in trucking for close to twenty years, started out as a recruiter, and now supports Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC) with their work in the Canadian trucking industry.
When most immigrants land in Canada, trucking is rarely on the list of careers they look to get into. Which is wild because the industry is desperate for talent.
The misconceptions don't help. Stories about truckers being away from home for weeks at a time abound. Or the misguided notion that it's a low-skill temporary job.
Ramon has been around, and he thinks working in Canadian trucking can be a rewarding career for newcomers.
Ramon and I chat about:
How his boss went from truck driver to VP of Culture & People
The support roles most people don't know about
Where to start for anyone looking to get into the industry
How to spot the fraudulent training schools
What a day in the life looks like for a city driver versus a highway driver
What truck drivers earn today
Dozie's Notes
A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:
In trucking, a license doesn't mean you can do the job. For any newcomer considering trucking, that's one way to spot the truck driver mills. You need to be competent at the wheel, know how to run your vehicle inspection, including the pre-trip inspection. Then there's regulatory fundamentals, defensive driving, documentation, and more. So, ignore anyone promising to get you on the road once you get the license.
The two-year Canadian driving history isn't the barrier it used to be. Insurers, who we all know see everything in black and white, now work with carriers on training programs that satisfy the coverage requirements, so a newcomer driver can move up one stage at a time until they can drive on their own. And there's a reason it works this way. Insurers don't want carriers handing a brand-new driver the keys and sending them off on a cross-border trip on day one.
Official Links
✅ Connect with Ramon Calanza on LinkedIn
✅ Check out TBDC's Explore Trucking Careers
✅ Read the guide on breaking into the Ontario trucking industry
One Ask
If you found this story helpful, please consider sharing it with one Canadian immigrant you know.