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(1,739 kb)
More than a quarter million Canadians are steering their big rigs over kilometres of concrete and asphalt, willing to put in long hours for higher earnings and the opportunity to see destinations that might otherwise be out of their reach.
In 1999, some 253,000 Canadians—about 1.7% of Canada's work force—were being paid to drive trucks locally, across Canada and into the United States. Roughly 247,000 were men, putting truck-driving at the top of the list of occupations for Canadian men, far ahead of Canada's 199,000 male retail sales managers. Female truckers numbered only 6,000. (For women, the top occupation is retail sales.)
Demand for truckers is rising, thanks in large measure to the growth in trade resulting from the Canada–U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Since the agreement was signed in 1989, the movement of goods between Canada and the United States has increased significantly. In 1998, more than 61% of exports to and 80% of imports from our neighbour to the south were moved by truck. As a result, the number of truck-driving jobs grew 13% between 1989 and 1998, compared with 9% overall employment growth in Canada.
And because nearly everything consumers buy is delivered at some point by truck, traffic in the for-hire segment of the trucking industry, which refers to companies whose principal activity is the hauling of freight for a fee, has grown substantially. Between 1990 and 1999, output in for-hire trucking increased at an average rate of 6%, compared with 1% in the air and marine transport industries and 2% in rail transport. For-hire trucking operating revenues amounted to nearly $17 billion in 1999.
A snapshot of Canada's trucking industry in 1998 reveals that about 13% of truckers are older than 54, compared with fewer than 10% for other occupations. Trucking also has fewer workers under the age of 25 than other occupations, likely because the industry demands practical experience and specialized training to haul certain cargoes.
The highly competitive nature of the industry often demands nearly round-the-clock operation of vehicles and equipment: in short, truckers must work long hours. One in five paid truck drivers was regularly on duty at least 60 hours a week, compared with only 2% in other industries. A driver working 60 or more hours a week in 1998 earned $854, while unionized drivers putting in long hours averaged $898. This compares with the national average of $666 for individuals working full time in all occupations.
In spite of attractive pay, the job has its challenges. Many long-haul drivers in the for-hire industry may not see their families for days or weeks. Close to half of for-hire drivers mix daytime, evening and late-night work, and one in five work Saturdays.