Immigrating to Canada as a truck driver is a path drawing interest from many Vietnamese workers, as Canada has faced a long-standing shortage of long-haul truck drivers. Transport truck drivers are classified under NOC code 73300, within TEER skill group 3. In this article, the My Second World team will analyze the requirements, the Class 1/AZ commercial driver’s license, salary levels per Job Bank Canada, and practical pathways through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and a job offer accompanied by an LMIA. You will gain a clear roadmap to prepare your application in the right direction.
Immigrating to Canada as a truck driver and NOC code 73300
Every occupation in Canada is coded under the NOC (National Occupational Classification) system. Transport truck drivers fall under NOC code 73300 — “Transport truck drivers”. This code is classified as TEER 3, meaning an occupation group that typically requires short vocational training, a certificate, or a specialized occupational license rather than a university degree. Correctly identifying the NOC code is a foundational step, as it determines which programs you are eligible for and whether your work experience will be recognized.
An important point to understand: TEER 3 level still qualifies for the Express Entry system and most PNP streams, as long as your experience and profile meet the requirements. However, since TEER 3 is not among the highest-skilled groups, some immigration streams require an additional job offer or provincial nomination to offset points. As a result, immigrating to Canada as a truck driver tends to follow a path supported by an employer or a province, rather than relying solely on CRS points.
The 2026 priority transportation group and Federal Skilled Trades
Among the category-based selection groups for 2026, Canada continues to prioritize experience in the transportation sector. However, one point that can easily be misunderstood needs clarifying. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the 2026 transportation group focuses on occupations such as pilots, aircraft technicians and mechanics, and does not separately list truck drivers. As a result, immigrating to Canada as a truck driver is currently not covered by the transportation category-based round, and you should reset your expectations to choose the right path.
On the other hand, NOC 73300 does qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program — a stream dedicated to skilled trades workers. FST accepts experience within the main occupation groups including Major Group 73, which includes truck drivers. To qualify for FST, you need at least 2 years of full-time experience (or 3,120 hours) in a skilled trade within the last 5 years, along with a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian province. This is one of the most practical doors open for the truck driving profession.
In addition, the 2026 priority categories have raised the minimum experience requirement for renewed groups from 6 months to 1 year, within the last 3 years, which can be accumulated either in Canada or abroad. You can also refer to the article the 2026 Express Entry priority categories to understand the overall picture and how invitation rounds are organized.
The PNP pathway and a job offer with LMIA
Since truck drivers are not part of the priority transportation group in Express Entry, the two most practical pathways are the Provincial Nominee Program and a job offer accompanied by an LMIA. This is the direction the My Second World team commonly advises for workers in the TEER 3 group, as it makes the best use of actual local labor demand.
The PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) allows each province to nominate candidates who meet its own labor needs. Many provinces such as Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta have high demand for long-haul truck drivers and have opened dedicated streams for this occupation. A provincial nomination through Express Entry adds 600 CRS points, almost guaranteeing an invitation to apply (ITA). As a result, PNP is usually the most effective pathway for someone in the truck driving profession seeking to immigrate.
The second pathway is having a valid job offer Canada job offer. Under many streams, the employer must apply for an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) — a document confirming that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the domestic labor market. A positive LMIA is both the basis for you to apply for a work permit and a way to meet the job offer requirement in many programs. You can learn more in the article shortage occupations in Canada to identify actual demand in each region.
Class 1/AZ commercial driver’s license and occupational requirements
To work as a long-haul truck driver in Canada, you must hold the highest class of commercial driver’s license. Depending on the province, this license is called Class 1 (most provinces) or AZ (in Ontario). A Class 1/AZ license allows you to operate a tractor-trailer, the type of vehicle most commonly used in long-haul freight transport. This is a core occupational requirement without which an immigration application for the truck driving profession is hard to make convincing.
Commercial driver’s licenses are issued at the provincial level, so the testing and conversion process differs from place to place. Foreign licenses are generally not directly recognized; most workers must retrain and retest in Canada, sometimes through a mandatory training program before the license is issued (Mandatory Entry-Level Training). As a result, many people choose to first go to Canada on a work permit, work while completing their local license, and only then submit a permanent residence application. You should clarify your licensing roadmap from the outset to avoid interruptions.
Besides the license, you need to meet the general requirements of an immigration application: proving your English or French proficiency through an exam such as IELTS or CELPIP, an educational credential assessment (ECA) if needed, a medical exam, and a clean police record. The English level required for skilled trades is usually not very high, but you must still meet the minimum threshold set by the program. This is a part you can fully prepare for in advance.
Truck driver salary and labor demand
Salary is an important factor to weigh when considering immigrating to Canada as a truck driver, and fortunately, the official data is quite transparent. According to Job Bank Canada, transport truck drivers nationwide typically earn between $19.45/hour and $37.00/hour, depending on experience and region. This figure is pre-tax and reflects a wide range between newcomers to the profession and experienced long-haul drivers.
Salary also varies by province. According to Job Bank data, in British Columbia truck drivers typically earn between $22.00/hour and over $40.00/hour, above the national average. In Ontario, the common range is roughly $19/hour to $35/hour, while Manitoba is slightly lower. Drivers running interprovincial or cross-border Canada–US routes usually earn more due to long-haul allowances. You should check the salary level for your intended province to set realistic expectations.
In terms of labor demand, Canada’s road transport industry has faced a years-long driver shortage due to an aging workforce and rising freight volumes. This shortage is why many provinces maintain dedicated PNP streams for the truck driving profession, and employers are willing to support the LMIA process. This is a genuine market advantage for Vietnamese workers with heavy-vehicle driving skills.
A realistic roadmap for truck drivers
From consulting experience, the My Second World team suggests a realistic roadmap rather than waiting for an unsuitable Express Entry round. As a first step, you should correctly identify NOC code 73300 and review your heavy-vehicle driving experience, prioritizing the type of tractor-trailer that matches a Class 1/AZ license. At the same time, prepare your English exam results and a clear record of your experience.
The next step is choosing the right pathway: targeting a province with a PNP stream for truck drivers, or finding an employer willing to provide a job offer with an LMIA. In many cases, the optimal roadmap is to first go to Canada on a work permit, complete your local license and build experience in Canada, then submit a permanent residence application through PNP or the Canadian Experience Class. This approach reduces risk and significantly increases the chance of success.
Every application has a different starting point in terms of experience, age, language proficiency and finances. Since this is a decision with a major impact on your life, you should carefully assess it before committing to a specific path, to avoid spending resources on a direction that does not fit.
Summary
Immigrating to Canada as a truck driver is a feasible direction given high labor demand and stable wages per Job Bank Canada. Although truck drivers (NOC 73300, TEER 3) are not part of the 2026 priority transportation group in Express Entry, you still have a clear path through Federal Skilled Trades, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or a job offer with an LMIA. The key lies in holding a Class 1/AZ commercial driver’s license and a strategy for choosing a province that matches labor demand. The My Second World team is ready to accompany you in assessing your profile and building the most suitable immigration roadmap.
