Beyond Licensing
Pathways to Truck and Bus Driving Careers in Alberta
Is a career in Commercial Transportation right for you?
AMTA is here to put high beams on the ins and outs of the commercial transportation industry. Whether you’re looking to find a job that meets your needs or want to understand what employees are looking for, our short quiz will point you in the right direction.
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New!
Government of Alberta Drivers Pathway course
Alberta’s new Class 1 Learning Pathway is your first step toward a rewarding commercial driving career, offering flexible, hands-on, industry-ready training.
Looking for additional resources?
Welcome to a superhighway of employment information and resources for Alberta’s commercial transportation industry.
Learn more about the new Class 1 Pathway and Government of Alberta introductory course
Launch your driving career with Alberta’s new Class 1 Pathway.
Not all busing and truck driving careers are the same. Explore career options with sector profiles
Read real-life stories from drivers across Alberta
Theresa
City pickup and delivery driver (dry van tractor-trailers)
I got my start when I came across Women Building Futures and learned about their program to help women get their Class 1 driver’s license. Before that, I had my Class 2, and I was driving a school bus. I was trying to find a job where I could be a full-time driver, but the jobs I was applying to needed a Class 1 or 3. They wouldn’t give me the time of day. I saw this as an opportunity to upgrade my license. I’ve been working at the same place ever since because Women Building Futures helped match me with a good company.
I didn’t intend to get into the transportation industry. I was in construction prior to that. After having my second baby, I was juggling childcare and realized it was more expensive than working. With the school bus, they offer training even if just have your Class 5, and they let me bring my children along with me once they were over the age of one. It was a good fit for my situation, and getting in the door was actually surprisingly easy. I stayed there for about six years. It worked out really well when I had young kids, but the work was part-time and the pay wasn’t great.
At my current company, they started me in the warehouse on a forklift, then on smaller trucks closer to the terminal. They eventually worked me up into the tractor-trailers, which I do now. Other women in my class were also doing the Women Building Futures program and got similar jobs.