Maple News reports that Canada’s growing shortage of truck drivers is opening potential opportunities for foreign drivers, including those with past criminal records. With an estimated 20,000 vacant trucking positions nationwide, provinces like Saskatchewan have launched dedicated immigration streams, such as the Long-Haul Truck Driver Project, to attract qualified labor from abroad.
International truck drivers are considered vital to Canada’s supply chain, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which designated them as essential workers. However, a criminal record can pose significant obstacles to border entry and future employment.
Canada treats certain offenses, especially impaired driving (DUI), as serious crimes. Since legislative changes in October 2018, DUI convictions can render individuals permanently inadmissible due to serious criminality, affecting anyone convicted after that date—even if the offense occurred outside of Canada. Other offenses, including U.S. felonies, can also pose serious entry barriers due to their severity.
Despite these challenges, Maple News highlights multiple legal pathways for international drivers with criminal records to enter the country legally. One such option is a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), which allows individuals to enter Canada for a limited period. TRPs can be issued for up to three years and may include multiple-entry privileges—an ideal solution for truck drivers who frequently cross the border.
TRPs can be applied for in advance through a Canadian consulate, a route especially recommended for truck drivers. Applying at the border (port of entry) may be possible for Americans but carries the risk of being denied on the spot, which could harm future travel and employment prospects.
A more permanent solution is criminal rehabilitation. If five or more years have passed since the completion of a sentence, individuals may be eligible to apply. This process, once approved, fully removes the criminal inadmissibility for immigration purposes and eliminates the need for a TRP. In some cases, criminal rehabilitation may even be automatic, depending on the nature and timing of the offense.
Additionally, truck drivers can benefit from obtaining a legal opinion letter. This document, prepared by an immigration attorney, analyzes the circumstances of the case and explains why the applicant should be considered admissible under Canadian law.
While a criminal record can complicate cross-border work, Canada provides specific mechanisms that allow foreign truck drivers to demonstrate admissibility and address their past offenses. With proper legal guidance and documentation, many drivers can still find a clear path to supporting Canada’s critical transportation industry.
As the demand continues to rise, Canada remains open to skilled international drivers—if they meet the eligibility and rehabilitation criteria.