National Occupation Code (NOC): 7511

Transport truck drivers operate heavy trucks to transport goods and materials over urban, interurban, provincial and international routes. They are employed by transportation, manufacturing, distribution and moving companies, and trucking employment service agencies, or they may be self-employed. This unit group also includes drivers of special purpose trucks and shunters who move trailers to and from loading docks within trucking yards or lots.

Follow This Occupation Share

Job Duties for Transport truck drivers

Long-haul transport truck drivers

• Operate and drive primarily tractor-trailor, long-combination vehicle and straight-body trucks weighing over 4500 kg to transport goods and materials over long distances
• Plan trip logistics and obtain required documentation to transport goods
• Perform pre-trip, en route and post-trip inspection of vehicle systems, equipment and accessories such as tires, lights and turning signals, brakes and cold storage
• Ensure cargo is secured properly in accordance with safety requirements and follow safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods
• Obtain special permits and other documents required to transport cargo on international routes
• Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled and fuel consumption
• Administer bills of lading and manually or electronically maintain log books
• Communicate with dispatcher, other drivers and customers using communication devices and on-board computers
• May perform emergency roadside repairs
• May drive as part of a two-person team or convoy
• May transport hazardous products or dangerous goods.

Short-haul transport truck drivers

• Operate and drive primarily straight trucks to transport goods and materials mainly on local routes and short interurban routes
• Perform pre-trip, en route and post-trip inspection and oversee all aspects of vehicle such as condition of equipment, and loading and unloading of cargo
• May drive special purpose trucks such as tow trucks, dump trucks, hydrovac trucks or cement mixing trucks.

Working Conditions for Transport truck drivers

Working conditions for long-haul truck drivers and local short-haul drivers differ to some degree. Short-haul ocal truck drivers typically make many deliveries throughout the day. Because they serve local businesses, their hours are mostly dictated by regular business hours. Long-haul drivers move goods between cities and across the continent. They often drive throughout the night when traffic is low, for shifts up to, but not exceeding, 14 hours. Schedules may also be flexible. Because long-haul drivers can spend a significant time away from home, many trucks are equipped with "sleeper" cabs and modern amenities, such as TVs, microwaves and computers. Truck drivers spend most of their time driving and sitting in seats that are generally comfortable. However, it is not uncommon for drivers to develop back or neck injuries from sitting for long periods of time or from loading and unloading cargo. Most truck drivers work alone. Some long-haul drivers may drive with a co-worker and rotate shifts.

Alternate Job Titles

• Automobile Carrier Driver
• Automobile Transport Driver
• Bulk Goods Truck Driver
• Bulk Milk Truck Driver
• Cement Truck Driver - Construction
• Coal Hauler (except Underground Mining)
• Dangerous Goods Truck Driver
• Dump Truck Driver
• Dumpster Truck Driver
• Escort - Transportation
• Explosives Truck Driver
• Flatbed Truck Driver
• Freight Truck Driver
• Fuel Oil Truck Driver
• Gasoline Truck Operator
• Gravel Hauler
• Gravel Truck Driver
• Groceries Long Haul Driver
• Heavy Truck Driver
• Hydrovac Truck Operator
• LCV (long Combination Vehicule) Driver
• Line-haul Driver
• Liquid Fertilizer Truck Driver
• Log Hauler
• Log Truck Driver
• Logging Truck Driver
• Long Combination Vehicule (LCV) Driver
• Long Distance Truck Driver
• Long Haul Driver
• Long Haul Tractor-trailer Driver
• Long Haul Truck Driver
• Low-bed Semi-trailer Driver
• Mobile Cement Mixer Driver
• Mobile Concrete Mixer Driver
• Moving Truck Driver
• Moving Van Driver
• Muskeg Tractor Operator
• Oil Transport Driver
• Ready-mix Driver - Construction
• Ready-mix Truck Driver
• Short Haul Truck Driver
• Shunt Truck Driver
• Shunter - Trucking
• Shunter Truck Driver
• Tank Truck Driver
• Tow Truck Driver
• Tractor-trailer Truck Driver
• Transport Driver
• Truck Driver
• Truck Mixer Driver - Construction
• Truck Operator
• Truck Owner Operator
• Trucker
• Truck-trailer Driver
• AZ Truck Driver
• DZ Truck Driver
• B-Train Driver
• Over-the-Road (OTR) Truck Driver
• AZ Drivers Wanted
• AZ Driver
• DZ Driver
• Flatbed Driver
• Driver Dump Truck
• A/Z Driver
• Tow Truck
• Driver, Dump Truck
• AZ Driver
• Driver, Truck