Canada---Can I work there as a USA driver?

You sure can. You will need a Canadian Work Visa and for those you will need a sponsor, which will be the company employing you. As you know, your current situation using only your US passport, only permits you to deliver and reload for the US. There's quite a bit more to it but I think any company interested in working with you will ease the process. Most North American truck drivers from the UK are domiciled to Canadian companies due to Canada's very lax, in comparison to ours, immigration and foreign worker laws and regulations.

 

I did something sort of similar when I was in expediting. I used my own cargo van, a Ford E-250. I worked for a Canadian company. As an American I wasn't able to take a Canada to Canada run. Most of my runs were from Michigan to the Toronto area and back. Sometimes there'd be a day gap, but sometimes I'd go back and forth twice in a day. It was my favorite time in all of freight delivery.

They got rid of their American fleet, so that situation only lasted about a year.

What I did was rent a room in Toronto. That way I didn't have to sit in my van when I was done. I get that you're looking to live in Canada full time. I'm not sure how ya'd be able to do Canada to Canada runs though. Ya may want to check in with a Canadian company and they'd have better information for your Q's.

As an American, if I'm not mistaken you can live there 6 months if you rent your own place before ya need to check in with authorities, who may/may not let ya stay. If you rent a room from someone, I see no reason why ya can't stay longer. There's advantages in that because if you buy any furniture or what have ya, bringing it back to the US ya may have to pay duty on it. I left the furniture I bought with the guy I rented a room from.

If you'd like to spend more time there, but don't have to live there, is there a dedicated run that goes to Vancouver? Doing that will allow you to spend 3-4 days a week there without having to go through the immigration hassles.

Good luck to ya.

 

I loved em. It was little things like when I'd ask for directions (this was before GPS were as enhanced as now) rather than just giving me directions, the guy would tell me: On your way there, stop in at Tony's Subs. It's right between the beauty parlor and the drug store. They're the best in town. Tell him Bill sent ya and he'll hook ya up."

So it was little things like that which made me really enjoy the place.

I think in general Canadians are happier than Americans. I know it's probably not a good idea to generalize like that, but that was my take on things. I don't think they're that much different, they just seem to be happier. It's been a few years since I've been there, but except for Toronto, most of the towns had a small town feel. Toronto I wouldn't expect to feel like a small town. Toronto though was what a big city should be like. Vibrant, clean, and safe. I'm not sure if it's still like that.

Ironic that you want to visit Toronto. I want to visit Vancouver. Seeing it on Hockey Night in Canada over the course of almost 50 years I've been awed by the breathtaking beauty of the place.

Also if ya get a chance, get to Montreal. I didn't speak French, but they're ok with that as long as they know you're an American. I guess Canadians had better know their French if they visit. I got treated real well there. Not like rock star well, but more "hey, this guy is visiting, lets make sure he enjoys himself" type well. If ya can talk hockey, even if ya don't root for Montreal, it helps. It's also neat listening to the radio. The DJ's will speak in French, which I didn't understand a word, but then they'd play ZZ Top, Aerosmith or something like that which I understood perfectly.

 

Cabotage is the term that is used, it is a treaty between Canada and the US that defines what can be done. Unlike our treaty with Mexico which allows full cabotage rights, the one with Canada is limited but should be changed.

I've done a lot of Canadian work, I like it up there unless I get a person who just doesn't like people from the US and there are a few of them.

I maybe one of the few who around in the states that can understand the French signage (or it seems to be that way) and know when I'm being insulted (mother-in-law is Arcadian French and she swears a lot in French). Sometimes it is easy to get through traffic while other times it is a pain. If you want to know what a European city looks like, go to Quebec.

I would recommend a good meal that includes Poutine ==> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine which you can find a lot of places, like KFC but get it from a sit down place. There is a couple places in Toronto that take it to a new level.

The other thing is my last trip there I had a curry wurst and a donner kabob, which I have yet to see here in the states except in NYC where they called something a donner kabob but it wasn't like anything edible - go figure.

 

Hi guys, thought I'd chime in. I'm from Canada, born and raised. I've spent my last 20 years in AZ, and travelling extensively across the US. Lots of differences between the countries - good and bad for both. Since we are speaking of Canada - It wasn't your imagination, the people are far friendlier than here - it's not even close. Now of course larger centers are less friendly than the more relaxed smaller towns. But, compare a big city in the US to Canada big city - it's like night and day. In my mind the biggest plus of Canada is the people. The downsides? Well, their political system is different than ours, but just as much of a joke. The taxes are very high. And as you know, diesel is a lot more $ per fill. The east and west are very scenic - the prairies not so much. Weather in summer time is very nice but winters are brutal.

Hope this helps.