In Canada, behind the wheel

Oleg, how did your job start off in Canada after your arrival?

A few days after my arrival I started training.  ILC, which helps with international job placements and with visa documents preparation, and Yanke Group of Companies, who gave me the job offer, took care of almost everything: accommodations, food, quickly obtaining necessary documentation - everything was made possible through the assistance of Yanke's staff.  Studying for a class 1A licence is a requirement when you arrive to Saskatchewan.  Even a truck driver with a lot of experience will need to retrain and pass written exams along with a road test in order to obtain a driver's licence.  You just can't work without it.

The training program consists of several courses: a traffic regulations course, a professional documentation and log book course, and even a course for those who will drive truck with a compressed air brake system. There was nothing difficult about these courses.  The traffic regulations are pretty much the same as in Ukraine, and I knew about the compressed air brake system before I came to Canada.  But to be perfectly honest, safety regulations and documentation requirements are completely different - that's why it was important to study here.

After about a month, I finished my studying and went for examination.  Questions were almost the same, but you have to pass several exams for each of the courses.  There is usually no problem with it.  Even if you want you can try to pass all exams on the same day.  But you can also aim to pass them in 2 or 3 days.  If you aren't successful on the first try, no big deal.  You can try the next day to pass it again.

What were your first impressions about Canadian roads?

At first it was unusual. In Ukraine, we have traffic lights before intersection, but in Canada, they have them after intersection, so in that way it is easier for drivers to see the traffic lights.  I also realized that I needed to get rid of my old habit of how I approach traffic lights.

In general, the traffic flow is well-organized.  I can turn right at every intersection, and I don't need to wait for a green light or to look for a green turning filter under the red light, like in Ukraine.  Moreover, there are special turning lanes before the intersection which allow you to turn right without needing to go through the intersection.

The quality of the roads is perfect everywhere and even in winter.  If it is snowing, they clean the roads very quickly so you won't be delayed by the weather conditions.  I was amazed that everyone is polite on the road, no one cuts you off.  And especially that nobody is in a hurry like in Ukraine.  Sure there are some "racers" but it is really rare to see them on the road.  So there are no problems to drive a car here.

What type of truck do you use at work now?

I'm driving a Volvo.  This is my fourth truck this year.  I started with Volvo as well, next it was a Freightliner and then a Kenworth.  Yanke Group has only new trucks with no more than 2 years of use. They lease trucks for this duration, then return them and get new ones.  It's impossible for a truck to break down in this period.  In addition, the trucks are serviced after 60-65,000 kilometers at a certified service station where Yanke can take the truck off the road for some brief period of time.

I don't have any complains about the trucks - they are both safe and new.  Have you ever seen a Ukrainian truck driver with a new truck?  Here it is a normal situation.

By the way, at the very beginning of my training, I was told: if you break down on the road, don't try to fix anything.  One call to the office and then it's the problem of the Yanke's technical services department.  They will either dispatch a technician to the truck or will call someone from the nearest service station.  Even if a tire blowout happens, special workers change the tire.  Truck drivers can't do that, well, they are not able to do that, because they don't have a spare tire.

How are things with regards to the highway police or patrols?

Fortunately they haven't stopped me yet.  If you don't break the rules, you won't have problems.  But how can you break them? The speed limit is 110 km/h on the highway and my truck can't go more than 110 km/h because of the governor.  You just don't notice the police.  In Ukraine, the traffic police hides somewhere behind the corner and waits for you, while in Canada you don't see such things.  If someone breaks the rules, they will catch you.  They turn on their lights, catch up to the driver and ask him to pull over.  Fines are high: you will pay more than $300 for driving through a red light, but speeding fines  depend on how much you exceed the speed limit.  For example, if you are caught driving more than 50 km/h above the limit, you can be fined $10,000.

It is very important to mention about weigh scales.  You should be careful about the weight of your load as driving with load that is over the allowed weight is forbidden in Canada as well as in the USA.  If after loading there is an overweight on one of the axles you should slide semi-trailer axles just to balance the weight.  When the weight is rebalanced, you should weigh your truck again, and if everything is ok, you can go.  There are Truck weighing stations on the roads, but they don't check everyone.

Have you seen any road gangsters?

No, such a phenomena doesn't exist here.  I haven't seen this in Canada or in the USA.  Once, I was in New York, in the neighborhood where black people live.  They are well-known for being very expressive persons.  I got out only to ask for direction and they explained me everything without any problems.  On the other hand, what did I have?  None of the drivers carry cash.  Well, only some carry some small change.  We pay for everything with our credit cards: even gas.  Even when I go to the U.S., I don't take cash with me.

Is it possible to rest while you're on your trip?

In my company, there are two drivers in the truck.  One is driving, the other one is resting.  Overtime is also forbidden, but there isn't any tachograph.  Instead of this, we keep a log book.  When the work hours are over, drivers should switch.  Safety is a serious and important thing here.  There are truck stops which have everything for a truck driver: shops, showers, coffee, gas and service stations, motels, and even wireless internet.  However, everybody sleeps in their truck - these trucks are like a motorhome: there is even a bedroom, a kitchenette and an office.

And, probably, the main question - how much are you able to earn?

I can tell you with certainty that I have enough to lead a normal life.  On top of your regular pay you receive extra bonuses.  For example, if you drive safely and without any problems, at the end of the year you can get about $2,000.  Everything depends on the driver.  If you don't break traffic rules and don't get into any accidents, it's in your best interest financially-speaking.  The main thing is that you aren't forced to take risks like in Ukraine.  For example, if it is snowing and the roads are slippery and the driver thinks that it is dangerous to continue driving, he has the right to stop and to wait until the road is cleaned.  In addition, he will be payed for the time that he is idle.  The main thing is for the dispatch at Yanke's office to be informed of it.

Travel expenses are accounted for.  It depends on where you were required to go on your trip.  If it was within the province then it will be the minimum whereas if it was further, the travel expenses will increase. It all depends on the mileage of the trip and whether there was any cross-border travel to the USA required.

Healthcare is free in Canada but dental and optical services are not.  Yanke's insurance policy reimburses for these expenses: $1,500 per year at the dentist and $1,000 per year at the eye specialist.  When I reach the age of retirement, I'll be sure that I won't have a to live as a beggar.  Of course I won't earn millions a year, but I will have enough for a decent life.  I have been here only for one year, but I have already bought a car, my family has moved here, and we have a normal life.  My kids go to school, I have a job, and my wife is at home for now.  What else do I need for my happiness?