Hi guys new at the forum. I'm just starting in the trucking industry and I got a big interest in dump truck driving. I live in Ontario Canada and looked into the job bank of Canada and most jobs want 1-5 years experience. Pay stars anywhere from 14-20$hr in the Toronto area. Should I take a excavation course? will companies take you if you only have AZ? Also my goal is to become a owner operator. What do the owners get paid. Does anybody know of any companies that hire apprentices? Let me know Cheers!! :wink:

 

I drive dump trucks in the city too, mostly around kitchener waterloo area.
Having a AZ wil help you alot, some guys only have DZ, but a AZ will help you get hired easier.

Union companies will pay higher, but they run shit for trucks, usually really old and no AC.
you shouldn't have too much trouble getting hired.
Dump trucks have probably the tightest profit margins of all trucking, there is always someone else willing to work cheaper, so i really don't know how you would make much owning your own trucks.

Most times when it rains you will have no work for the day. Sometimes you will drive to a job and then be sent home, wasting all that fuel.

Travel time to and from a job is never paid with your own truck.

And dump trucks have a really hard life, breakdowns are very common, tires, u joints ,drive shafts, rear ends , axles, always are breaking.
i would go drive a companu truck for awhile.
You will probably work long hours, 12-15 hours per day. and be laid off all winter.

$14-20 per hour is pretty common.

 

Yikes! And I thought it would be a privilege to drive one of those old Autocar dump trucks I still see. Guess not.

 

You would have better chances of getting a dump job if you were of East Indian heritage. Before you make any decisions talk to drivers...they will tell you it's a tough business to make money in with the competion and all the business costs of running a truck. You can expect to start with low wages for the first 2 years. If you are prepared to work hard, get a job as a garbage driver/loader with the City of Toronto- the pay is well worth it.

 

Thanks guys. Hi bikerboy is your companie looking for drivers? I live just up the street in Brantford. Are you Driving for OBrain trucking? Very interested in that business. Also I'm going to Robar trucking school in Brantford. There is a school in Caledonia called KRTS. They do AZ and excavation would that be my better choice. Cheers! :wink:

 

The company I work for keeps new trucks, trailers, and all the vital components for safe working. We run Volvo, and Mack tractor trailers and tri-axles . ALL of our trucks have several comfort measures when they arrive to us, to be put to work -A/C, cd players, heated mirrors, high horsepower, some have RH power windows, etc.


Why am I mentioning this? I drive for a Union company. Local 217 International Brotherhood Of Teamsters. Maybe I am of the lucky ones. *shrugs*

 

The company i work for is not from kitchener area, we just work there alot.

This is a very bad time of year to be looking for a dump truck job, all the dump truck work is slowing down for the winter.
I would wait until about march or april and then start applying to dump companies.

There is a big gravel hauler based out of mitchel, Louis mcnichol trucking, (LMT) you could apply there, i know they work all over ontario, but they pay percentage i have heard.

I would get your AZ and any excavation training you can.
IF you learn to run a hi hoe, you will be set. Running one of them is a good job, but takes a long time to get good at it. And most times you would need a AZ licence too.

 

Don't forget, there are also the winter snow jobs..ploughing roads and hauling snow to dump sites.