Hot Tip -- by Christina Marriott

From Langford to Labrador, to Saskatoon and Scarborough and across North America, the transportation industry connects cities across the world. Transportation, which is part of the larger logistics industry, provides access to people, products and services essential to the growth and success of our country.

This industry is unique among careers as it offers opportunities for everyone from mechanical engineers to salespeople. For example, some three million trucks are on the road in Canada, and truck drivers can make over $68, 000 a year while travelling and experiencing North America. Even though it does not require any specialized formal education, truck driving offers one of the more glamorous and better paying jobs in road transportation.

Before you decide on a career in the truck, you may want to check out provincial operator licence requirements through the Alberta Government. Depending on the transportation career you are pursuing and the class and size of vehicle you are operating, there are different licensing requirements. For instance if you are wanting to obtain your Class 3 licence, here's what you'll need to know.

It is required that you present two pieces of identification such as a passport, photo identification from another jurisdiction, birth certificate, or Alberta Health Care card. Each piece of identification should contain name, date of birth, and/or signature.

A Class 3 license permits an individual to drive several types of motor vehicles including a single motor vehicle with three or more axles, and/or a motor vehicle with three or more axles towing a trailer. The minimum learning or licensing age is 18, and drivers are required to pass a written and road test, vision screening and obtain an air brake certificate if the vehicle is equipped with air brakes. When it comes to the road test for a Class 3 licence you can use any single-motor vehicle having three or more axils.

The future of the transportation industry is bright. As the world's economy and population grows, the demand for efficient freight transportation will climb even higher. But perhaps the greatest reward of having a career in transportation is knowing you are part of an industry that keeps the "wheels" of our country turning.

(Christina Marriott is a career counsellor at the Calgary Youth Employment Centre.)