How long does it take?

No formal credential, with a first real paycheque in about 3 months.

What does it cost and how much debt is typical?

About $6,500 in tuition and fees, and $4,000 of debt is typical for those who borrow.

Straight to work

AZ truck driver

Q: How much does a az truck driver earn in Ontario?

Roughly $37,500 in the first years and $51,000 by year five (Ontario median, before tax). Verified against Job Bank NOC 73300, wages Nov 2025 ($19.23–26–35/hr), outlook 2025–27 Moderate; MELT course $3,500–8,500 at Ontario registered schools (OCTTA proposed $6,500 minimum, Nov 2025); cost shown is the mid-range.

Class AZ licence (MELT course)

Numbers for 33 of 52 pathways verified, the rest partly · How we verify

Years to credential0

First real paycheque~3 months

Time in a classroom50%

Total cost$6,500

Typical debt after$4,000

Demand in OntarioSteady

The first ten years

schoolearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn

Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

Ontario median before tax. Overtime, location and specialisation change this a lot. Net by year 10 after program cost: $473k, low to high $400k to $546k.

What's in "net by year 10"

Earnings, years 1 to 10	$480k	$37,500 rising to $51,000 by year five, flat after
Program cost	−$7k	tuition and fees
Typical (medians)	$473k	the number on the card
Low to high	$400k to $546k	pay 15% under or over the median, cost 15% more or 10% less

Not counted: income tax, rent, food, loan interest, inflation, and unemployment gaps. They apply to every route, so they change the size of each number more than the order. Pay is the Ontario median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isRegional or long-haul freight. Local delivery runs let you sleep at home.

What actually stops peopleInsurers want a clean record and often a minimum age; some carriers want two years' experience.

The downsideLong hours, sedentary, and away from home on long-haul. Autonomous trucking is a long-term question.

If you're the parentThree months of training to a job that pays more than many diplomas. The lifestyle, not the pay, is what to talk about.

Local opportunities in Ontario

Ready to explore this for real?

Eight quick questions about whether this route fits your life, not just your grades. You'll get a readiness check, and if you want, we'll introduce you to employers, unions or programs in your region.

Check my readiness

How to enter

What you need

No specific courses or average; Grade 12 (or equivalent) and a willingness to show up

Deadlines in Ontario

No deadline; most entry roles hire year round. Certificates (PSW, security, AZ) run every few weeks

Next steps

Save or share this pathway

Email it to yourself or someone who should see it.

✓ Verified 2026-10-26 Sources: Job Bank NOC 73300, wages Nov 2025 ($19.23–26–35/hr), outlook 2025–27 Moderate; MELT course $3,500–8,500 at Ontario registered schools (OCTTA proposed $6,500 minimum, Nov 2025); cost shown is the mid-range

← Back