The Professional Truck and Bus Driving Careers website is an online resource that’s here to help meet industry needs and fuel the career growth of drivers across Alberta and beyond.
Here, you can explore information on many different driving careers, which we call Industry Sectors. Whether you’re considering a career in trucking and busing, exploring your career options as you work towards your commercial licence, or are an experienced driver who is curious about other types of driving positions, this site is here to give you the information every driver should know, including safety tips, labour rules, and more.
Trucking and busing can’t be summarized in just a few paragraphs. That’s why we built this comprehensive resource. Check it out!
About AMTA
The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) is the Voice, the Standard and the Resource for commercial transportation in Alberta. Since 1938, the Association has advanced the industry through safety programs, progressive policy, and key partnerships.
For more than 85 years, AMTA’s work has encompassed a broad range of environmental, psychosocial, socioeconomic, safety, advocacy, and compliance matters that impact provincial highways. Projects in research and innovation bring key stakeholders together to lead and develop innovative technologies that will significantly enhance the industry while reducing adverse human and environmental impacts.
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Jeff
Current role:
Driver and operations supervisor at an oilfield trucking company
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Read Jeff's Story
It was a long time ago, but I started driving smaller vehicles back in Ontario when I was 17. After a break from the industry in the late 90s, I decided to get back into trucking again. I went through unemployment, and then I got my license. That was a bit of a painful process. It was discouraging, but I stuck with it. I got my funding and my Class 1. From that point, I ran into personality conflicts, and it took me almost a year and a half before I got myself into a legitimate, solid job. It’s that same old saying, “You got to get the experience to get a job,” but how do you get experience if nobody hires you? That’s the problem I fell into. It took me a good year and a half before I actually found a company that was willing to say, “Okay, we’re going to take a shot on you. Let’s see what you can do.”
Nowadays, I see a lot of people get their start by having some connection with someone who owns a truck or company. Or, they go someplace that has a solid training program that can take them from being new to being out on their own. While it can be hard to find a job at first, there are good companies out there that can help new drivers get their start.
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Our Partners
AMTA would like to thank our partners who helped make this project possible. This includes funding from the Government of Alberta and project development support from the following organizations: Trucking HR Canada, Women Building Futures, Blood Tribe Employment and Skills Training, Bison Transport, and Trimac Transportation.
Parvati
Current role:
Long-haul refrigerated driver (driving as a team with her husband in Canada)
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Read Parvati's Story
I selected my school, which trained me for about three months, and then I took the government test a couple of times. It took me a bit to get the shifting, but I passed and started looking for a job. As a new driver, I always wanted to start with a bigger company, and I didn’t mind getting less pay. So, I joined the place where I’m at now. It’s really a very amazing system they have. They’re able to take drivers who are new. We started in the city with an instructor and moved into long-haul work. My instructor was a real professional; I learned a lot. After three months, I started driving with my husband, and I didn’t have any issues.
Some of the people I went to Class 1 school with started at smaller places and were earning more than me. But some of them had issues with pay and safety, so I’m glad I had the mentorship. It’s been almost six months, and my wages have already started increasing.
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