Plane ticket has arrived, Canada here I come, again.

When we were last in Canada I met a lad (Nick Brown) who worked for another Alberta company. He was packing up his family and moving to New Brunswick.
I was just reminded of them, as his wife Sandy just left a comment on a previous post (thanks Sandy) It seems they have now moved across to Edmonton, but it wasn't plain sailing as you will find if you read her blog...

"The trailer forced us off into the ditch and the front drivers side corner hit a rock. This caused us to flip and roll, tearing the trailer from the car. The trailer then hit the back of us, stopping the roll and spun us round.
It was horrific and terrifying. ..."

Continue reading here... A truck driver's wife, my account of Canadian life.


Plane ticket has arrived, I'll be arriving back in Calgary February 11th, and I'm sad to leave Cath, family and friends, but happy to meet back up with pals in Canada.

My only fear is whether I can stand to be away from my new love, and Cath will also have the same problem when she gets here, but it's not Afghan or Iraq, and I know people who have left young families behind to go to those war zones, so no comparison really.

I was going to call this blog "Letter to Rebecca" but I'm a Yorkshireman, not a soft bloody southerner!

LMO sorted.

As previous readers of the blog will already know, I worked for Watt and Stewart on a one year contract last time I was in Canada with Cath, and we only came back because of our Granddaughter, but since working away in France last year Cath is willing to come over to Canada with me again for a couple of years at least, all being well.

I applied for a job with Watt & Stewart again and was offered an LMO (Labour Market Opinion) as, despite his advertising they are failing to get many new Canadian Long Haul drivers , so the Government are willing to issue the LMO's which allow the import of foreign drivers.

This does not mean that anyone from Europe can just walk in and start working in Canada as a driver. You will need to already have a class one licence which allows you to drive large articulated vehicles, and, on arrival in Canada with a job offer you will be expected to train for, and pass the Canadian equivalent Class 1 licence, you may also be required to provide a Police clearance certificate.

Having passed the Canadian test in 2008 I am entitled to hold the licence, so I will only need to pass a medical and drugs test to renew my licence and get on the road again after I arrive.

The written job offer and the LMO is used on arrival to request a Temporary Work Permit (TWP) from the Canadian Immigration desk.

Wolfman, Cath and The Wee Hermit  having a small beer in the Lethbridge Lodge in 2008

Hopefully I won't be too long before I am 'down the road', but I would like to catch up with mates first, and I will probably have a few days orientation with the company before driving off into the sunset.

Welcome aboard to old and new readers, and don't forget to check out the other trucking (and music) blogs in the right hand side bar. I would also welcome suggestions of other blogs to add on as I have lost track a little, but hopefully will be putting less on Facebook and more on here in the future.

Here we go again, but with a new blog name and address.

A new Year and a new(ish) blog.

I've renamed the blog which has been running since 2008 and includes the 5 months with H&R transport, Canada, the full year with Watt and Stewart, Canada and two stints working in France.

The reason?

An imminent new contract at Watt and Stewart in Claresholm Alberta, and as I will be going over to Canada on my own for a while it seems that 'Cath in Canada' is not quite right.

I'm just waiting for the LMO (Labour Market Opinion) which allows companies to employ foreign workers on a TEMPORARY basis if they can't find people in Canada to do the work. This is not the same situation as the UK where employers are looking for cheaper labour, but rather due to a shortage of people available for long haul (OTR) drivers. The Work permit comes with restrictions and is no way a quick way to get permanent residency in Canada.

I also hope to keep up to this blog with a lot more information, videos and photographs which will be relevant to anyone wanting to work in Canada on a Temporary Work Permit.

I'm using a ready built template instead of the one I made for 'Cath in Canada' this time, but I may change it back at some point.

Welcome aboard.