European (Norwegian ) driver interested in moving to USA.
 

Hello !
I'm a 35 years old Norwegian trucker, thinking about moving to USA.
I have been a truck driver for 15 years, driving all over Europe with both frigo and tankequipment (both semi and drawbartrailer) up to 52 tons totalweight. I have mostly been driving Scania, but also Volvo and Mercedes Benz, with Fish from Norway to Europe(mostly Italy, Portugal and France) with fruits and vegetables back to Norway. In the last years I mostly have been driving tankers in various forms (gasoline, diesel,
Jet A-1, and Bitumen for Shell in Norway) and all kinds of chemicals (Alkyd, White Spirit, Polyester and a lot of different acids) mostly in Scandinavia (yes, I have a lot of experience of driving in the snow). My question is: Is my Norwegian driverslicense and ADR license(haz-mat for both tank and dry goods) worth anything if I try to move to USA, or must I start at scratch. I have never had any trouble with the police, so my hopes is that i can get a green card without problems.
I am very thankful for all information I can get.

Roger

Re: European (Norwegian ) driver interested in moving to USA
 

International licences typically are not valid, in US or Canada

More than likely
To work in US under a trucking work permit my be hard to get, unless acompany is willing to sponsor you.

If you aren't too far from Oslo, you could call the U.S.Embassy and enquire about work visas and how to get licensec in the U.S.

European driver training is more demanding than the training here, so you should have little difficulty finding a sponsor.

Here is the Embassy website: http://www.usa.no/

Heck, with 15 years experience and experience driving in arctic conditions, he could probably get good work running between the lower 48 and Alaska.

No offense, but this is starting to be the problem with the entire U.S. laborforce. We either outsource our American jobs to people in other countries or we hire them to come here and do them for less than the average american would do them for. I get sick of people wanting to come here and work for nothing while the hard working Americans suffer. Why dont u come here and buy a convenience store like the rest of em?

I must be lost, I don't recall anywhere that this guy said he was wanting to come work here for less money than what an American makes. If anything, he'll probably be taking a paycut by moving to the US but that's offset by the fact he won't be paying 1/2 his paycheck in taxes.

Maybe not this particular case, but there is all sorts of labour work being lost to cheaper immigrants that I have read others stating in other threads.

Only for information :
I am now earning about 44000,- NOK pr. month, I think 1 USD = 6,27 NOK = about 7000,- USD pr. month, and paying 35% taxes. :D

Shush! The Viking Trucker is probably more professional than 95% of all drivers in the US atm.

'forsiktig' i doubt you will be able to make as much as you have been making unless MAYBE if you find someone specialized on running the terrain you are used to. ALASKA! If you do not find someone like that willing to work with you and possibly pay the higher insurance premium because your experience is not as easy to verify for lazy ins. cos.

One more thing, I admire your aspirations; Although I dont understand why you would want to leave a beautiful country like Norway.
You are used to things like the govt. caring about you and having a safety net, were used to bending over and the govt. is saving on vaseline and if we get sick, starve under a bridge.

He may not make as much but the cost of living will certainly be lower. Gas was $1.98 this morning here in LC. :lol:

Thanks for the supporting words !
The Diesel here in Norway costs about 1,2 USD pr. LITRE
for big Shellcustomers, and the unlead gasoline 1,7 USD pr. litre.
We are as most people know an oilproducing country, but I think we have some of the highest fuelprices in the world. Not much like Kuwait, where they only pay for the fueltransport plus a little. :?

Very few American drivers, get that much, and those who do, paying at least
that in taxes. :sad:

Thanks a lot for your advices, what about Canada, do they need drivers ?
I am not speaking French, could that be a problem ?
In the winter I think that I will feel a lot more secure in a europeean truck, is there any company buying europeean brands in USA/Canada ?

Yes

Yes in Quebec, or anywhere near a Quebec/Ont border

Volvo's?

You won't find a European cabover in the US. The only "European" truck would be the Volvo VN's but they were designed for the North American market. There are a few Freightliner Argosy cabovers running around and they're about as close to a European cabover as you'll get in a US model truck.

Scania used to sell their "T" series tractors in the US in the late 1980's but they're an extremely rare sight and I think were mostly sold on the east coast.

Scania has a foothold in Mexico now but since they've discontinued the "T" series conventional tractor, I don't see them returning to the US or Canada.

Hello Forsiktig !! My grandfather was from Skudesnes Norway, A true block head . I dream of being able to visit where he grew up . If you should come to the USA let me know ! I live in the North East , would be more than happy to help you out if I can . My grandfather moved here when he was 17 , became a citizen at 23 . He was a fisherman and a Confidential Observer for USN ( SPY ) and loved this country.