What an AZ truck driver does
AZ drivers operate tractor-trailers and other combination vehicles, which in Ontario requires a Class A licence and a Z endorsement for air brakes. Depending on your operation, they may run local, regional, long-haul or cross-border lanes, haul dry vans, reefers, flatbeds or tankers, and handle customer pickups and deliveries. Beyond driving, they complete daily inspections, keep hours-of-service records, secure loads and represent your company at every shipper and receiver they visit.
A single AZ hire affects your safety record, insurance and customer relationships, so the screening has to go deeper than a licence check. Finch reviews licence class and endorsements, asks for a current driver's abstract, and talks through the equipment, lanes and freight a candidate has handled. We also check that their experience meets the standards your insurer and safety program set. You interview a shortlist of qualified drivers who fit your fleet.
Typical responsibilities
- Drive tractor-trailers safely on assigned local, regional, long-haul or cross-border routes
- Complete pre-trip and daily vehicle inspections and report defects
- Keep accurate hours-of-service records, including electronic logs where used
- Secure loads and check weights, seals and paperwork
- Communicate with dispatch about delays, delivery issues and route changes
- Represent your company professionally at customer and shipper sites
Qualifications and credentials
- Valid Ontario Class A licence with a Z (air brake) endorsement
- A driver's abstract that meets your company and insurance standards
- Newer Class A holders will have completed Ontario's mandatory entry-level training (MELT)
- Experience with your equipment type, such as reefer, flatbed or tanker
- For cross-border lanes, eligibility to enter the U.S.; many carriers also prefer a FAST card
- Knowledge of daily inspection, hours-of-service and load securement rules
Who hires an AZ truck driver
- Long-haul and regional trucking carriers
- Food and beverage distributors
- Building materials and steel suppliers
- Manufacturers with private fleets
- Intermodal and container haulage companies
Where we recruit AZ truck driver candidates
We fill AZ truck driver roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Licence class, Z endorsement and any conditions
- Driver's abstract against your record and insurance criteria
- Depth and type of experience by equipment and lane
- Inspection, logging and load securement habits
- References from previous carriers on safety and reliability
Interview questions to ask
- Walk me through your pre-trip inspection. What would make you refuse a truck?
- Tell me about a time you were running close to your hours limit with a delivery still to make. What did you do?
- How do you secure a load like the freight we haul, and how do you check it on the road?