i am a malawian truck driver with a malawian valid pdp and drivers licence issued by malawian state .i have 9 years experience in horse and trailers with articulated and inter link trailers . my qualification is primary school leaving certificate and i am married and 36 years old . hHOW CAN I GET TRUCK DRIVING JOB IN USA ? WHAT DO I REQUIRE TO TO SECURE A SEASONAL JOB IN USA , CANADA AUSTRALIA , UK AND N ZEALAND ?
Stormin' Norman to address truckers
· By: Dan Keegan
· Date: 2001-10-26
Comments (10) Join conversation
The Agenda for the American Trucking Associations 2001 Management Conference in Nashville (Oct. 28-31) is a telling insight into the importance of trucks and their drivers in our modern transportation system. Amongst the speakers will be General Norman Swartzkopf, commander of U.S. troops during Desert Storm, Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labor, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card (via satellite hookup), and Vice President Dick Cheney via video-taped presentation.
When the FBI announced it was investigating terrorist links to commercial licensing and the transport of hazardous materials the nation awoke to the idea that it isn't just planes that pose a risk but every element of transport that forms part of the circulatory system of a modern society. Drivers pose a special concern, says John Conley, vice president of National Tank Truck Carriers, because they are so closely involved with hazardous materials ( HAZMAT) shipments.
The connection between the September 11 attackers and the hazardous materials transportation system has pulled the spotlight towards an issue that has been bothering the trucking industry for some time: the selection, qualification, training, licensing, and hiring of commercial drivers.
"Any safety director will tell you that there is really not a shortage of people who want to drive trucks," Conley said, "but there is a significant shortage of drivers we feel confident to hire to drive our equipment carrying your product. When we do find the good drivers, we can't pay them enough." In recent years, competition, merging, and downloading have squeezed the trucking industry hard, forcing it to cut corners. An unfair burden in providing cheap transportation for goods fell on the driver, who is often expected to work long hours under difficult conditions for low pay. This was one of the issues laid out for Homeland Security director Tom Ridge in a recent letter from Jim Johnson, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association ( OOIDA). The OOIDA has long been concerned with certain practices in trucking that affect the economy of the industry and "may leave safety and security gaps that place the entire nation at risk," says Johnston.
In particular, Johnson expressed concerned about a shortage of drivers that causes domestic carriers to aggressively recruit foreign nationals to become truck drivers in the United States. This pressure promotes incidents of misuse of U.S. visas to gain entry for foreign workers to become truck drivers, says Johnson, and it is aided and abetted by lax rules for background checks before hiring, and meager requirements for obtaining a commercial drivers license in the U.S. "For years we have stated that the most important factor in truck safety is the experience and quality of the person behind the wheel," Johnston told Land Line Magazine recently. "Unfortunately, there are not many obstacles to anyone getting a CDL for purposes that may be good or bad. The lack of qualifications necessary to become a truck driver allows motor carriers to focus on finding the cheapest labor they can rather than qualified professionals."
The quest for cheap labor, he adds, has led U.S. carriers to look overseas in their recruitment efforts. "The recruiting efforts cover every region of the world. If they have a warm body and their feet can reach the pedals, they can be a truck driver. The foreign recruitment of drivers makes it easier for foreign nationals to come into the country where they easily gain access to 80,000-pound vehicles and all of the goods, raw materials, chemicals, fuel and munitions that are shipped by truck every day on our highways."
The demand for foreign-recruited drivers has stimulated some illegal activities by some recruiters. Johnson pointed to a March 12 case in which two men pleaded guilty in federal court in Little Rock, AR, to several charges related to helping foreign truck drivers obtain U.S. visas illegally. They helped them file false visa applications, including false reasons for wanting to come into the country, and allegedly made their money from American trucking companies looking for drivers.
However, easy entry into the country is just part of the problem, says Johnson. Low requirements for the Commercial Driver's License and HAZMAT permits are also an issue. A written test and a brief driving test are all the CDL requires, he adds.
Once a driver with a CDL is found and hired, the motor carrier has 30 days
to complete a background check. However, says Johnson, once a driver is hired,
there isn't enough incentive for the company to actually perform the check.
For some time now the OOIDA has strongly advocated the establishment of mandatory
driver training and a period of supervised apprenticeship to improve the quality
of truck drivers and the safety of our highways. Now, Johnston urges, there
may be national security reasons to support such a rule.
Comments
steve e. mwale, on Saturday, 16. June 2007 at 09:03 AM
Doesn't matter, on Tuesday, 16. October 2007 at 11:11 PM
Sadly the only way to get into the USA to leaglly drive a truck is via a scam company who gets you there legally,takes your money and leaves you deserted.
But they do get you there legally unless you can sorce a company yourself,But it seems to much of an effort for these American companys to do the Visa process,They would rather the American drivers they ahve continue to wreck there trucks and listen to them bitch and moan and do very little miles each month.
truckersforusa.com
is the website,be very causous though of them.
Shawn, on Wednesday, 21. November 2007 at 02:02 PM
I believe that reply was very juvenile. There are Canadian companies working with overseas drivers to obtain visas, and eventually citenzship in Canada. I know this because I am one of those companies. We, like many other companies in Canada, take care of all personell, including drivers. We understand that a company's success is only possible when all people in a company enjoy success.
Steve, on Friday, 21. March 2008 at 08:10 PM
I would like to ask the Chap Hiring overseas drivers how I might contact you please.
Thanks Steve
nick, on Monday, 24. March 2008 at 05:24 PM
am looking for a company in canada to sponser me to emmigrate,nearly20 yr exp trucking,have tried lots of different forums and drawn a blank,any one got any ideas?
aussie, on Saturday, 02. August 2008 at 08:26 AM
we worked in the usa 95/96 thru trek had an awesome time, anyone who has the opportunity should do it!!
Pravin, on Thursday, 28. August 2008 at 07:09 AM
Used Trailers sale and search for horse trailers, Flatbed, Utility Trailers, Dry Van, Reefer, fema trailers, snowmobile, Boat trailers, Big Rigs for sale and Tractor Trucks in our huge nationwide database of Tractor Trailers equipment.
Mark, on Wednesday, 17. September 2008 at 01:48 PM
shawn I read your comment about you having a company. I'm from the netherlands and I'm looking for a truck driving job in canada, what is your company name so I can apply for a job.
darwaish alam, on Saturday, 11. October 2008 at 06:57 AM
i am darwaish alam from pakistan.i am heavy duty long haul truck driver.i have 8 years experience.i am looking a job in any good transport company.email me.
thanks
saud_2sweet@yahoo.com
00923323664864
00966557079923
Tijana, on Monday, 03. November 2008 at 01:37 PM
I am looking to find Trucking Co.s in BC that are willing to participate in the BC PNP in order to bring a foreign worker from the US with ample long haul experience.
Please email me at tgirl99@hotmail.com if you have any information.
