Like agriculture, Alberta is globally known for its oil and gas industry. Often referred to as the energy sector, oil and gas represent a major employer in most areas of the province—especially in the north and east. Due to its broad range of activities, oil and gas often intersect with other industries like construction.

Oil and gas services can’t take place without major support from transportation operations. Whether transporting drilling equipment, hauling materials, or moving work crews, trucking and busing careers in the oil and gas sector offer a great option for those looking for career growth and diverse skills.

Because the oil and gas workforce performs a wide variety of tasks, this profile will not cover all of them in detail. Instead, it will present a summary of common oil and gas transportation roles, providing general information that encourages interested individuals to further pursue their oil and gas careers.

  • Seasonality

    Work is nonseasonal as an industry, but often slower during the spring due to road restrictions.

  • Method of Pay

    Drivers may see hourly or salary pay when paid by time. For those in positions where long distances are driven, distance-based pay is more common (i.e., by the mile), along with pay by the load and pay based on a percentage of revenue.

Equipment and Tasks

There are many different oil and gas employment options for those with a Class 1 or other commercial licence, particularly if an individual has other skills that are in demand. Positions primarily involve driving, but could also focus on another area of the industry (such as drilling rig operation) that only involves a small amount of heavy vehicle driving.

  • Equipment

    Individuals in this sector will see a variety of oil and gas equipment across different employers:

    • Straight trucks with booms
    • Straight hydrovac trucks
    • Tractor-trailers with day cabs or sleepers
    • Equipment-hauling trailers
    • Winch tractors with trailers
    • Straight winch trucks
    • Straight tanker trucks
    • Tractor-trailer tanker units
    • Buses for crew transportation
    • Trucks meant for off-road work
  • Tasks

    Drivers can expect to perform common driving-specific tasks, like city and highway driving, pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections, cargo securement, and customer service-related responsibilities. Tasks will vary widely based on the specific employer and role. For example, a driver of a hydrovac truck may spend most of their time operating the hydrovac during excavating work. On the other hand, drivers who haul material on flatbed trucks and trailers may spend most of their time driving and only a relatively small amount of their time helping load and unload their vehicles.

Lifestyle in the Industry

The oil and gas industry has a lifestyle of its own, and drivers in this sector will experience this culture to varying degrees. Some driving positions require their drivers to primarily work alone, whereas others require work to be performed in larger crews. The specific work of the individual employer will impact the lifestyle that a driver experiences.

  • Work Shifts

    Day shifts are common, but many employers also run night shifts. Shifts may be up to legal limits (14 hours of work over a 16-hour window). Some employers receive permits for extending some aspects of a driver’s legal work limits. Shifts could start at any time required by the employer.

  • Physical Demands

    Oil and gas careers are often very physically demanding, but this varies greatly based on different driving roles. Some positions may only be physically demanding when a driver has to put tire chains on their truck, whereas other careers, like operating a hydrovac truck, require more lifting and long periods of time standing in varying degrees of weather.

  • Work/Life Balance

    Based on their employer and role, some drivers are able to be home at night if they live near their worksite. However, it’s common for long haul drivers in the oil and gas sector to be gone for long periods of time. Other drivers may work a rotation, such as ten days on and five days off.

  • On-Call

    Being on-call is common in some oil and gas careers, but this will vary between employers.

Getting Started

Larger companies have online application systems, but smaller employers may have to be researched and contacted directly. Once a driver has passed the pre-hire safety checks and is hired, they’re orientated by the company and can expect a period of supervision. Oil and gas safety orientations can be quite extensive, with applicants having to complete various safety courses related to oil and gas-specific hazards.

Drivers may get their start in oil and gas by applying for a labour position, such as a swamper (i.e., driver helper) while they’re learning about the industry. Taking this route can help an individual gain the trust of their employer and increase the likelihood that an employer will invest in their necessary training and take them on as a driver.

  • Mandatory
    Requirements

    A driver will need the class of licence required for the vehicles they operate. Drug and alcohol testing is common. Drivers must be clean-shaven to wear a respirator. Some employers also require applicants to complete specific oil and gas safety courses before being hired.

  • Preferred Skills &
    Previous Experience

    Previous driving experience is preferred, along with experience in the oil and gas industry, even if it’s in a non-driving role. Off-road/backroad driving experience, customer service experience, and a strong work ethic are also preferred by employers.

Red Flags

Drivers in this sector handle heavy items, work with large equipment, and work with dangerous chemicals. Individuals interested in starting a career as a driver in this sector should be on the lookout for these potential red flags (aka signs that an employer may not be operating safely):

  • Equipment and vehicles that are in poor condition.
  • Being pressured to become an owner-operator early into one’s career or any other signs of employee misclassification.
  • A lack of safety training by an employer, including transportation-specific training for the vehicles being driven, training on how to safely load and unload equipment, and training on dangerous substances (such as transportation of dangerous goods training).
  • A lack of fatigue management training, especially when operating under an oilfield hours of service permit.
Quick Facts:
  • There are many different careers in oil and gas that require a commercial licence. Driving-only positions aren’t the only option in this sector.
  • Oil and gas workers are often proud of the work they do and the industry they work in.
  • Oil and gas driving careers often pay quite well.
  • Some oil and gas positions require large amounts of time away from home.

More Help

Are you interested in learning more about working safely in transportation? Check out our Resources page for insights from industry experts and organizations. We’ve taken great care to present information relevant to those interested in truck and bus driving careers, those already employed in trucking or busing, and employers navigating labour challenges.

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Contact Information

If you have questions or want to learn more about the content of this website, please contact the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA). AMTA employs experts in trucking and busing across Alberta. We would be happy to help you further.

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