Truck Driver

[gilipsie]

Although my friend rarely goes to Canada with his rig, he is considering starting loads to Canada as they are offering him a good rate. What type of visa would he need? Can he take his dog into Canada with him?

 

[Libra]

The Commercial Driver Registration Program

Hi,

Your friend might want to look into the The Commercial Driver Registration Program. All necessary and authentic information can be found on the website of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); just follow the links on the webpage and scroll up and down to see more information:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/cdrp/menu-e.html#eligibility

Note: Do not send original documents. The CBSA will keep the copies with your application

With regard to his dog accompanying him in his rig, check this other web link from the CBSA as well: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4161/rc4161-e.html#P021

With regard to all other personal effects, check the links at the bottom of this web page:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4161/rc4161-e.html

Hope this helps.

Warm regards,
Libra.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Although my friend rarely goes to Canada with his rig, he is considering starting loads to Canada as they are offering him a good rate. What type of visa would he need? Can he take his dog into Canada with him?

He can drop off loads from the US in Canada, and he can pickup loads in Canada for delivery to the US. He cannot pickup in Canada and drop off in Canada unless he has a work permit.

International Trucking
R186(s) applies to truck drivers who are delivering and/or picking up goods across the U.S. and
Canadian border, insofar as they do not pick up and deliver from one location to another within
Canada.
Foreign truck drivers involved in international hauling should not generally become involved in the
loading and unloading of their cargo when such is being delivered directly to a warehouse in
Canada from a U.S. destination or picked up in Canada for direct movement to the United States.
The exception is when drivers who have expertise in the handling of loads such as chemicals,
furniture, livestock, etc., are responsible for the loading and unloading of their vehicles. Another
exception is in cases where drivers will occasionally assist in the handling of their cargo in a nonwarehouse
situation (such as movers offloading furniture to a house at the end of an international
move), especially when no other assistance is available. These practices and exceptions prevail
on both sides of the U.S./Canada border

PMM

 

[Libra]

Based on what he wrote, the prohibited activities to the Work Permit Exemption for International Truckers might not apply to his friend because he's saying that his friend will be "starting loads to Canada" - whatever that means though. Although it should not be assumed that his friend does not intend to "pick up and deliver from one location to another within Canada."

So, a work permit will only be necessary if the driver intends to "pick up and deliver from one location to another within Canada." Otherwise, he doesn't really need the work permit as long as he intends to drop off goods only in Canada (starting loads to Canada), and /or pick up goods from Canada to the U.S.

Gilipsie, make sure that your friend's activites fall within the work permit exemption (no work permit needed for International Truckers), as PMM cautioned in his posting of the work permit exempt rule: Page 18 and 19, Paragraph 5.20 "Work without a work permit [R186(s)]—Crew /International Trucking" from http://www.stmarys.ca/administration/intercen/documents/worker-manual.pdf

Of course your friend can choose to have a work permit as a business back-up plan to make up for slow periods on this side of the border by "picking up and delivering goods from one location to another within Canada;" however, he will need to go through the tedious process of obtaining Canada's Labor Market Opinon for truck drivers in order to get the work permit. That's an entire different ball game altogether.

Therefore, Work Permit? or No Work Permit (and still earn a living for the time being)? - That is the Question for your friend.

Warm regards,
Libra.

 

[gilipsie]

I am sorry that I was not clear. He will be picking up load in the US and delivering in Canada. But, this information is great and I will show him this forum when he comes in next. Thanks for all the info.

 

[gilipsie]

My friend came in off the truck and this information helped him out. Thanks for your help.