Three Routes Start
Straight to work

AZ truck driver

DEP Transport par camion (615 h) + Class 1 licence (SAAQ)

22 of 30 verified for Quebec; "start something" routes use national figures · How we verify
Quebec works differently: trades are a nearly free DEP then a CCQ apprenticeship; college is a 3-year DEC at a cégep (tuition-free for residents); university is 3 years after a 2-year pre-university DEC. Numbers from IMT en ligne, CCQ, FIQ scales and the Relance surveys.
Years to credential0.5
First real paycheque~6 months
Time in a classroom50%
Total cost$700
Typical debt after$0
Demand in QuebecHigh

The first ten years

schoolearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn
Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

What's in "net by year 10"
Earnings, years 1 to 10$509k$41,100 rising to $54,100 by year five, flat after
Program cost−$1ktuition and fees
Typical (medians)$508kthe number on the card
Low to high$431k to $584kpay 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 Quebec 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 Quebec

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 Quebec
  • No deadline; hiring year round

Next steps in Quebec

  1. 1
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In QuebecThe DEP is nearly free, versus Ontario's $8,000 private school. Long-haul mileage pay can exceed this.
www.quebec.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for Quebec Sources: DEP fees plus SAAQ exams; IMT 73300 wages (min $19.78, median $26/h); MESS Diagnostic 2025-2029: déficit

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