Canadian schools acceptable to American companies?
 

I am in the immigration process right now. I am wondering if I took truck driving school here in Canada, would that be acceptable to American companies?

I know I'd have to take another road test in the U.S. but would I have to go to an American school? I was thinking of going here http://www.otds.com/ and then just taking a road test when I'm in the states since I will already know how to drive a truck. Is this school acceptable to American companies? Please help. I don't want to waste money.

Not one of you 41 people can help me with a simple yes or no?

you best bet is to call the DMV of where you want to live in the states and see if the license will be accepted.

I know from a phone call if I want to move to BC from WA my license will just transfer right over.

Thanks. I checked it out and it looks like it would be a waste of time and money for Indiana (which is where I'm going to). There goes that plan. I may never drive a truck. :sad:

You might want to check in Michigan and see what they can do for you, since you are right across the river.

I'll look into that. thanks for the tip.

Canada - USA Blues
 

Oops - messed this up. Will try again.

Canada - USA Blues
 

REALLY SORRY that I just today saw your posting. I spent three months going around in circles on this one myself. And on this board, great as it is, no one seems to know much about what wannabe drivers in Canada are going through. And, ok, why should they care?

I got it right between the eyes, when I read a blog written by a retired RCMP guy who went through trucking school in Ontario, and then COULD NOT find a job, because the Canadian carriers insisted on 1-yr OTR experience. And this ex-policeman probably went to one of those schools which are good at taking money and little else.

Now since I'm a woman, and not RCMP calibre by any stretch of the imagination, I was appalled at what my own prospects for work would be. In Ontario as you probably know already, unless you live close enough to the school location to commute, you have to add $1,500 living expenses on top of the $6-7,000 you have to shell out for your training.

Good news, brother, if you're in Quebec. With a year's residency in that province, you pay $150.00 Canadian for a FOUR-MONTH TREMENDOUS TRAINING SCHOOL, IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, plus room rental and meals.

But getting the job in Canada -- Who is there to hire a new graduate? Schneider? CRT? Challenger Motor Freight is very good, I think.

But for me, I'm still an American citizen anyway, after living north of the border in Canada for years. And not having all that money, I just decided to go to a PTDI (Professional Truck Driver Institute) certified school in Missouri. The only PTDI schools in Ontario are Fifth Wheel and KRT. Fifth Wheel up is Liskeard is out-of-the-way. Their campus in Caldeonia opened about a year ago. They supply room-and-board, but you still pay a lot for tuition.

Yes, I was told that some U.S. states across the Great Lakes will take a Canadian Class A as a U.S. CDL license. I never checked into that. I do know a lot of things have changed and things have tightened with the U.S. companies and schools, even for Americans trying to get into truck schools in different states, if they live in other states.

I HOPE YOU'VE FOUND SOME ANSWERS SINCE YOU POSTED EARLIER THIS MONTH. I almost gave up myself several times.

But now I'm starting school October 23rd.

Good luck!

I am pretty sure you are mistaken.

The only way I am sure that a license can transfer straight across is if you come to BC from another province.

If you come to BC from Wa (or anywhere else outside of Canada) you will have to take a road test. This is information that I have gotten from an Insurance Corporation Of British Columbia road test examiner who also is the manager of our local ICBC agency.

The ICBC agency I talked to said it would cross over, I would just have to get a "higher medical" than for a standard DL. They stated they have an agreement with WA to accept it.