Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

Purpose
To address the critical skill shortage of workers in the Alberta Trucking Industry, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) will consider an employer’s business case for the select occupation of Long Haul Truck Driver (NOC 7411 - C).

Definition of long haul and short haul truck drivers:

Long haul: Drivers depart for destinations thousands of kilometers away from home. They cross inter-provincial boundaries and travel over international routes across North America. Drivers are away from home for several days per week or weeks at a time. A long haul driver is one who operates a tractor-trailer combination vehicle and hauls commercial goods over long distances.Long haul truck drivers are eligible under the AINP.

Short Haul: Drivers typically leave home or the terminal in the morning and travel to destinations within a half day’s or one day’s drive; they make numerous stops to pick up and deliver goods over a relatively short distance.Short haul truck drivers are not eligible under the AINP.

Eligible employers and semi-skilled employees must meet the following criteria:
Criteria for Employers (includes but is not limited to):
The number of allocations approved to employers are based on factors including recruitment strategies and conditions, employment policies and practices, retention and settlement.
Allocations will further be based on the number of temporary foreign workers approved under a Labour Market Opinion (LMO), size of company and number of long haul drivers and past performance (retention rates).

A company will not receive an allocation larger than the number of foreign drivers for which the company has received an LMO.
Allocation will be based on 10% to 15% of the number of long haul drivers employed by the company.

A review of the retention rate of the company with previous allocations will be conducted. Companies with retention rates of less than 50% may not receive a full yearly allocation. These companies will have to demonstrate improved recruitment and hiring practices.
An Employer must provide information regarding recruitment activity and supporting documentation that demonstrates that the foreign trained driver is aware of the scope of their employment, which includes duration of long haul trips taken, mileage, normal amount of days away from home, and anticipated annual salary.

In-Alberta training must be documented. If provided by the employer, details of the training program must be provided which includes training content, hours of training provided in a classroom and supervised road training, testing methodology, and results.

If the training is provided by a third-party, a copy of the program syllabus must be provided including hours of classroom and supervised road training, testing methodology and results.
The in-Alberta training and supervision must certify familiarity with traffic laws, documentation requirements (record of loads, vehicle maintenance log books, mileage, etc.) and areas of specialization (hazardous goods, mountains, winter driving conditions, running in major metropolitan areas) etc.

An Employer must ensure that the Provincial Nominee (PN) Candidates have prior driving training and related experience in a professional capacity.

Alberta Class 1 driver's license and eligibility of the candidate to meet provincial regulations.
An Employer must submit a PN Candidate who has the required qualifications, has demonstrated excellent work performance and will contribute to the long term success of the company.

An Employer must possess a Service Canada Labour Market Opinion (LMO) Confirmation and meet the conditions such as salary and accommodation.

An Employer must ensure the PN Candidate is competent in listening, speaking, reading and writing English prior to nomination.

An Employer is responsible for testing and establishing a benchmark of English language capability of the PN Candidate upon arrival.

If the PN Candidate originated from an English speaking country or has completed secondary or post-secondary studies in English, the employer is not required to provide proof of PN Candidate competency in the English language.

Should the PN Candidate not be competent in English, the employer must provide the PN Candidate with an in-house English as a Second Language (ESL) program or cover the cost of the ESL training for the PN Candidate.

For more on ESL training programs, see related links for the ESL Guideline for Hotel and Lodging, Manufacturing and Trucking Industry.

An Employer must provide, in their application to the AINP, a plan outlining their approach to accommodation, settlement and retention for the PN Candidate from the time the PN Candidate commences employment with the employer. The plan shall demonstrate employer support and assistance toward successful integration of the workforce, community and society integration.
Criteria for Provincial Nominee (PN) Candidates (includes but is not limited to):

The PN Candidate must hold a valid work permit for the National Occupational Classification (NOC) occupational group of 7411, for the occupation title of Long Haul Truck Driver and be residing in Alberta.

PN Candidates must provide a copy of their foreign driver's license which indicates C+E certification (if from Europe). Both parts of the license must be provided. If the driver's license is not in English, it must be translated by a certified translator.

PN Candidates must have driven in a professional capacity before coming to Canada and provide sufficient credible documentation to demonstrate their previous driving related training (hazardous goods, etc.) and work experience.

Preference will be given to drivers who can demonstrate a minimum of three out of the last five years work experience as a HGV/LGV driver.

PN Candidates must provide reference letters on company letterhead, dated, and signed with the title or position of the individual from the company who is providing the reference. E-mail letters are acceptable if they are sent from the company’s e-mail account that is providing the references (not hotmail or yahoo accounts).The letter must state the occupation of the employee, either HGV/LGV driver, and/or describe the work they performed which clearly indicates the equipment that was driven (articulated, semi, reefer, tanker, etc.).

Preference will be given to PN Candidates that have completed a minimum of high school education.

The PN Candidate must be employed in Alberta for a minimum of six months and meet or exceed all employer established work and performance standards before being nominated for the PNP.

PN Candidates not competent in the English language must undergo ESL training from the time they arrive to work to when they become permanent residents. To be eligible for nomination the PN Candidate must submit proof of 85% attendance rate in the ESL training and must demonstrate a progress in learning.

The PN Candidate must demonstrate integration into the local community.

The PN Candidate must demonstrate the financial means or capability to pay for the costs of applying for permanent residency and establishing themselves and their family (if applicable) in Alberta.