已经来到加拿大的朋友, 除了一部分从事IT的有了比较称心的工作外, 其他行业成功的例子很少. 不敢说大部分, 但至少有相当一部分人都在干低收入的力工. 这其中有不少人的专业不太容易在加拿大找到工作, 可是没谁甘心干一辈子力工,于是面临着一个转行的问题. 很多人选择了转行IT, 2000年以前很管用, 现在明显不行了. 其他的有: 经纪人(地产, 汽车, 保险, 理财等), 推销员(水, 电, 气), 汽车维修, CNC机床操作工等,......这也有很多成功的例子, 如fishlonly等. 我觉得选择行业时要根据自身的情况, 别人合适, 不见得你就合适.
我来加拿大前在国内的一所大学教书, 属于混日子一族, 否则就不出来了. 出来前考了个MCSE, 来了以后又学了UNIX(SUN), 还考了A+. 但费了九牛九虎之力, 想到的招数都用了, 也没挤进IT的门. 静下来自己想了想, 我失败的原因有三方面: 技术不强, 底气不足; 世道不好, 运气不佳; 拔高不够, 胆子不大. 看来这门是不会对我打开了, 与其坐以待毙, 不如另辟溪路, 于是我选择了----做卡车司机.
经过一个多月的学习, 体会只有三个字: 不容易. 卡车司机, 说好听一点是professional worker, 说白了就是一个熟练操作工. 不同的是他的责任重大, 不既要对自己负责, 还要对别人负责. 所以当卡车司机并不是一件容易的事.
在安省学做卡车司机的基本要求: 18岁以上, G牌, 身体健康(要通过体检). 最好开过手排档的车, 四肢动作协调. 多伦多的卡车学校很多, 大部分是在骗钱. 我比较了很多家才选择了我现在学习的这家, 虽然学费贵一点, 但是值. 如果你有兴趣转到这行, 我可以为你提供一些参考意见.
学习内容主要是四部分: 行车前检查(pre-trip), 挂/卸拖车(coupling & uncoupling), 路上驾驶(drive on the road), 后退泊车(backing). 这里比较难的是高档换低档(down shift)和后退泊车.
另外, 通过我个人的体会, 给所有开车的朋友提一点忠告:
1. 大部分卡车都是气体制动(air brake), 启动慢, 停下来也慢, 跟着他走时, 您要有耐心.
2. 卡车在十字路口的转弯通常要占用两条车道(share the road)
3. 车厢尾部是死角, 请你不要靠他太近, 尽量让司机能看到你
4. 尽量避免在弯道处超卡车
5. 不论在local or highway, 不要突然插到卡车前面
这几天收到了好几位网友的Email, 询问有关做卡车司机的详情. 先把我所了解的情况介绍如下, 有错误和不全之处, 请大侠们斧正.
1. 关于驾照的等级
安省机动车驾照分为12级. 与卡车有关的是A,D,G. 由于大部分卡车都是用气体制动, 所以要求司机有相关培训和认证, 即Z背书(Z Endorsement). 所以大家会看到招聘司机的广告要求有AZ,DZ. 以下为政府关于A/D牌的要求:
A and D Licence Classes and Requirements:
Minimum requiremnet for application---you must be age 18, hold a valid Ontario class "G" or higher licence or equivalent; pass a test of operating knowledge of large trucks and tractor trailers; meet vision standards; provide a satisfactory medical certificate on application and periodically thereafter; demonstrate driving competence during a road test in a combination of a motor vehicle exceeding 11000kg(24000lbs), gross weight or registered gross weight and a towed vehicle exceeding 4600kg(10000lbs) total gross weight.
Class A is authority for the operation of: a motor vehicle and towed vehicles where the exceed a total gross weight of 4600kg(10000lbs), or the operation of vehicles include in classes "D" and "G", but not buses carrying passengers, nor motorcycles.
Class D is authority for the operation of: any motor vehicle exceeding 11000kg(24000lbs) gross weight or registered gross weight, and any combination of a motor vehicle exceeding a total gross weight or registered gross weight of 11000kg(24000lbs), and towed vehicles not exceeding a total gross weight of 4600kg(10000lbs). It also allows you to operate vehicles included in class G, but not buses carrying passengers, and not a motorcycle.
三点说明:
(1)没有说女的不可以, 但不知有谁见过跑长途的女司机?
(2)体检最好去驾校推荐的医生那儿, 通常是$20-$30, 其他地方是$40-$70.
(3)驾校都有关于笔试的复习题, 不用担心(由于公务员罢工, 我还没考笔试)
2. 关于驾校的选择
在安省政府网站上查不到有关注册卡车驾校的信息, 你可以查黄页或咨询安省卡车协会(Ontario Trucking Association, http://www.ontruck.org). 下面是他们给我回复的部分内容:
We do not endorse any truck driver training schools. However, we do have some companies as members of our association -
http://www.ontruck.org/buyersguide/...ning%20Schools.
My advice before deciding on a school is to call some trucking companies in your area and ask which schools they hire from.
Regards,
Stephen Anderson
Assistant Manager, Communications
Ontario Trucking Association
Ph: 416-249-7401 Ext. 245
Fax: 416-245-6152
Email: stephen.anderson@ontruck.org
不巧的是, 有些学校还没有自己的网页, 所以你只有挨个打电话了. 在咨询驾校时, 搞清以下问题:
A Few Questions That Should Be Asked Of Any Training Institutions are as follows:
(Yes/No)
1.Are you certified by the Truck Training schools Association of Ontario?
2.Are you registered and bonded by the Ministry of Education? (416) 314-0500
3.Is the training one on one?
4.Is all training done in both tandem tractors and trailers?
5.Does the school train on loaded equipment? If Yes, how much weight ________
6.Is the student trained on more than one gear pattern?
(A student should be trained on at least two shift patterns- 9 or 10 speed and 13 speed)
7.Does the school have a written and oral interview acceptance program?
8.Can the school provide verifiable placement statistics?
9.Does the school have a third party auditing their facility?
(If Yes, who performs the audit?)________________________________________
10.Does the school keep report sheets on each student which are signed by both
student and instructor? (Ask to see these forms!)
11.Is the school willing to be inspected by the funding agency?
12.What is the classroom ratio of students to instructors?_________
13.How many hours of on-the-road driving is given to each student?_______
14.How many hours of theory are given?______________
(注: 该段资料摘自ADANAC TRUCK DRIVER TRAINING LTD., http://www.adanactrucktraining.com/ieindex.html)
谨记, 没有谁会说自己不好. 最好的检验方法是试听(没几家会让你这样做, 大多让你一次把钱交清)或听前面学员(你信得过)的介绍. 我找不到知情的人咨询, 凭感觉选择了现在我学的这家驾校(Extra X Truck & Bus Training, 3630 Lawrence E., Room 36, 416-439-1100), 还好没选错.
大家看有的驾校的广告说$900-$1600可以考到AZ证书, 现在根据我的体验我是绝对不相信的. 我觉得一个新手不花上$3000, 不练个30小时以上就能考到证书, 那他不是天才就是神仙. 不过我也真碰到一位(印巴人), 花了不到$3000就考到了证书, 结果两个月没找到工作, 上个星期到我们学校来"进修"了.
3. 关于找工作
到HRDC的JOB BANK上看一看, 经常有招聘truck driver的广告. 在local工作的, 时薪为$14/小时以上, 虽然不高, 但工作轻松. 跑长途的, 挣得多一些, 当然也很辛苦. 能挣多少, 我也不知道, 只知道大概有两种算法, 一是按公里数算, 二是按价值提成. 不过听说加拿大的公司很差劲, 按mile算, pay加元.
拿到了驾照, 不代表你就能找到工作. 每家运输公司都有一个safty manager, 他负责对新来司机的评估. 不管你说你有几年经验, 给你一辆车, 带上他出去转转. Safty manager都是有经验的老司机, 通过你的表现, 立马就会测出你的水平. 所以在驾校学习, 不光是为了考车牌, 还应该能学到一些实用技巧, 这可不是每个学校都会教你的.
有些学校的广告到处包你找到工作, 这并不是骗人. 通常这个驾校的老板或教练跟某个运输公司有很深的关系, 人家认可他的学员. 驾校为了维持自己的声誉, 就不会乱推荐人, 而且也会对学员尽心教授 |
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