by Stella Shepard
PEI trucking companies operate buses, long-haul and short-haul trucks, repair trucks, and manage the logistics around moving freight. From food to furniture to clothes, 95 percent of items Islanders purchase are delivered by truck.
“On PEI, about 4,000 employees work in the trucking industry, and about 2,000 are truck drivers,” says Brian Oulton, Executive Director, PEI Trucking Sector Council (PEITSC). “We are looking for 500 to 800 new employees in the industry. We have a population of truck drivers who are reaching the age of retirement, and we have companies that want to expand and grow. There is certainly so much opportunity.
The key opportunities in the industry and the most challenging positions to fill are for truck drivers and mechanics. As well, we hire human resources specialists, dispatchers, and management. If 100 truck drivers applied today, we could hire all of them.”
Career examples
- Truck Driver
- Heavy Equipment Mechanic
- Freight Broker
- Driver Trainer
- Dispatcher
- Parts Technician
- Safety and Compliance
- Human Resources
Wages
“New US Long Haul Truck Drivers start at about $50,000 to $60,000 per year. If they are willing to drive longer distances, they could earn $70,000 to $80,000. Drivers are paid by the mile; the more miles they drive, the more money they make.
“If two people share a truck, which is called team driving, it becomes much more productive – one person sleeps while the other drives. Team drivers on PEI can earn up to $100,000 or more per year and are home about eight to 10 days a month.
“Drivers who haul specialized loads such as fuel or B-trains (two trailers hooked together) also make more money. The further you go away from home and the longer you stay away, the more you are paid.”
For more information about careers in trucking, call the PEI Trucking Sector Council at 902-566-5563. Visit www.peitsc.ca.