Olegas, long-haul truck driver from Lithuania tells about his work in Canada

We travel long distances across Canada and USA,  this opens an opportunity for us to visit new interesting places. Cabins are great, and sleeping berths are very comfortable. The truck drivers are treated very well on the road. I like it a lot.

How I chose my profession and made a decision to move to Canada

When I was in the army I made a decision to become a truck driver, though I had completely different education. Now I am certain to say that I do not have any slightest regrets concerning my choice. Truck driver career is by all means the profession I like! During the last seven years my wife and I lived and worked in Ireland. We had a nice life there before the crisis. I received a good salary and always had a job. Everything changed when the crisis started. I started to search for a job, and bumped into a truck driver job in Canada advertisement on one of the websites. I  got interested,  and decided to send my CV -now I live and work in Canada.

Life in Canada

Frankly speaking, I felt like moving back to Ireland after several months spent in Canada, however I decided to stay for a summer, and then for a couple of months more. Little by little I started to feel  that I like Canada! I enjoy the climate here. Contrary to humid and damp Ireland, the weather is great in Canada. I am Lithuanian, got used to  cold weather. The salary is a little higher in Canada than the one I would earn in Ireland. My wife keeps on living and working in Ireland. Our children stayed with  their mother, however then they moved back to Lithuania,  they like it more there. It is not easy for me to live far away from home. I spend  much money on flights, but I don't have a choice as I want to see my family. I would be happy if they moved to Canada with me .

Truck driver's working conditions

Speaking about the working conditions for truck drivers, this is the matter of preference.  I work with the teammate, so the truck is always on the  road, and  is a little challenging to sleep. However, we travel on long distances across Canada and USA, and we  have an opportunity to see many beautiful places. The truck drivers are treated very nice on the road. I like it a lot.  The work  regulations are much more flexible here, in Canada, than in Europe. In Europe you have to drive 4.5 hours, and then you are obliged to make a break for 45 minutes. Then you drive the same distance and make a break again. In Canada you have 13 hours, and it is up to you to decide when you want to make a break. Cabins are great, sleeping berths are very comfortable here,  cannot be compared to the ones in Europe.

Can I advise truck drivers to come to Canada? For truck drivers from the post-soviet countries, they should definitely come to work to Canada.  The working conditions are better here and the wages are higher.  If to speak about the truck drivers from Europe, I would advise to think everything over. In Canada there are plenty of opportunities, and if you have desire you will succeed.