Overview
A commercial driver’s license is one of the best ways that people can earn a good living working their own hours in Canada. Right now in the economy, there is a chronic shortage of truck drivers that have their commercial driver’s license and many companies are having to go out and recruit drivers to come and work for their company. There are some restrictions on who can have a commercial driver’s license but jumping through a couple of hoops in order to get certified is a small price to pay for the rewards that it brings. Here are several steps on how to get a professional driver’s licence in Manitoba.
Licensing Requirements
There are several more restrictions on who can get a commercial driver’s license over a typical license. There are many reasons for this, but essentially it comes down to the fact that when you are operating a large vehicle like a truck, there needs to be a differentiation between a typical driver’s license and a commercial driver’s license. For those that have a clean driving and criminal history, there should not be much of an issue getting a license. However, if you have a lot of speeding tickets or a criminal past you may have a harder time. The government of Canada does not want to give a commercial driver’s license to anyone that is going to cause havoc on the road. That is why the age requirement to get a commercial driver’s license is 21, which is much higher than the age required to get at typical license.
Training
After getting approved through paperwork, a person will start his or her driving training. Driver training school is generally several weeks to several months and is very extensive. There are many things that are different about getting a commercial driver’s license vs. a typical one. Knowing how to operate a large motor vehicle is not something that many people know, so the training is a bottom up approach to truck driving. At the end of the training, a prospective drive must pass both a road and written test. The training to get a commercial driver’s license is not something that is easy to get through, simply because there is so much more risk in operating a large motor vehicle. The instructors take their job seriously knowing that they cannot simply give out a commercial driver’s license to anyone that wants one.
Road Test
The road test for a commercial driver’s license is much more extensive than a typical driving license. After going through the paperwork and getting approved for the test, a driver must show that he or she has the ability to maneuver a large truck on the road. The training process for a commercial driver’s license should help with this, but at the end of the day a driver must demonstrate it on the road. A commercial driver’s license is not something that is easy to obtain because a mistake while operating a large vehicle carries more inherent risk than a typical vehicle. The road test is in several stages, with an instructor present at all times. Instead of just lasting a couple of hours, the road test for a commercial driver’s license lasts several days. You will go through the typical path of navigating in normal conditions and then will have to prove your knowledge in driving in bad conditions as well.
Written Test
Many people feel like the written test is one of the most difficult parts of earning a commercial driver’s license. There are hundreds of multiple choice questions, and prospective drivers must answer about eighty percent of them correctly in order to advance in their commercial driver’s license process. There are many materials out there for people to study with, but some people are just naturally not good test takers. It is important to take a lot of practice tests so you can experience what it is like to take a long timed test that you have to hit a certain number on. At the end of the day, how much you prepare on the front end of the test will determine whether or not you have success in passing the written portion of the test.
Final Thoughts
Overall, trucking is a great career for people that do not want to go to college and make great money. Not only do you get to be in charge of your own career, but you get to travel and see the world as well. Getting a commercial driver’s license is much more extensive than getting a typical license, but there are resources along the way to help you reach your goals. For those that put in the work, trucking is a great career with many advantages.
Manitoba Professional Driver’s Licence Knowledge Test – Practice Quiz 1
Manitoba Professional Driver’s Licence Knowledge Test – Practice Quiz 2
Manitoba Professional Driver’s Licence Knowledge Test – Practice Quiz 3
Manitoba Professional Driver’s Licence Knowledge Test – Practice Quiz 4
