Aussie Driver Wanting To Move To USA To Live And Drive

Hi all just a quick run down on me, I'm a Kiwi and I've been living in Australia for the past 8 years and driving b double's doing interstate for the last 6. I seriously want to move to the states to drive and ultimately get a green card and so on. It's been one of my longest standing dreams to do just that and now it's time to make it all happen. I do have a few locations in mind already, Texas, California or Florida. Although Texas is at the top of the list. I have zero ties so I'm a free man.

My first question is where the bloody hell do I start to make it all happen? Any info and ideas are highly appreciated.

Cheers James

From the TX DPS: Only commercial driver licenses from Canada and Mexico are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as having full reciprocity for driving privileges in the state of Texas.

Also: Texas also has license issuance reciprocity with France, Germany, South Korea, and Taiwan only. (for non-CDL)

It sounds like you'd have to basically take the tests and get a whole new license. If you do it in Texas, make sure you download a copy of the CDL handbook as Section 14 is not covered in Brett's High Road.

If you go to each state's DPS website and search reciprocity, it should tell you if there is any chance you'll be able to transfer a license in a different state, but I'm guessing they'll all be about like Texas.

I just sent my recruiter asking about a "friend" and describing your particular situation. She is already gone for the day so I won't get a response for another 13 hours or so.

From the TX DPS: Only commercial driver licenses from Canada and Mexico are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as having full reciprocity for driving privileges in the state of Texas.

Also: Texas also has license issuance reciprocity with France, Germany, South Korea, and Taiwan only. (for non-CDL)

It sounds like you'd have to basically take the tests and get a whole new license. If you do it in Texas, make sure you download a copy of the CDL handbook as Section 14 is not covered in Brett's High Road.

If you go to each state's DPS website and search reciprocity, it should tell you if there is any chance you'll be able to transfer a license in a different state, but I'm guessing they'll all be about like Texas.

Thanks for that! I have come to the sad realisation that I may have to do everything again, cheers for the heads up about the section 14.

How long does it take to go from a standard car licence to a class A cdl? From my understanding the class A and cdl are seperate licences? Is that correct?

I just sent my recruiter asking about a "friend" and describing your particular situation. She is already gone for the day so I won't get a response for another 13 hours or so.

Thank you! 👍

You need to have a U.S. drivers license for at least 1 year, after relocating to the states....

I'm actually hoping to relocate to Australia and drive there someday. Happen to know what goes into it for an American driver? How would I go about getting my HR and HC licenses? And what's the job and pay like there? Do you drive all across the country or mainly stay around Sydney-Melb-Brisbane-Adelaide?

Dear James, you got some great replies and suggestions here. Unfortunately, none of them is going to be of help to you until AFTER you have the GREEN CARD, meaning that you have become a legal immigrant. No one trucking company is going to sponsor you for that, as "TruckDriver" doesn't fall under any of the special visa requirements for sponsorship. Sorry to be the messenger of bad news.

Hi all just a quick run down on me, I'm a Kiwi and I've been living in Australia for the past 8 years and driving b double's doing interstate for the last 6. I seriously want to move to the states to drive and ultimately get a green card and so on. It's been one of my longest standing dreams to do just that and now it's time to make it all happen. I do have a few locations in mind already, Texas, California or Florida. Although Texas is at the top of the list. I have zero ties so I'm a free man.

My first question is where the bloody hell do I start to make it all happen? Any info and ideas are highly appreciated.

Cheers James

Recently we looked up some info as a classmate of mine isn't a U.S. Citizen. She's lived here

for 17 years though and never became a citizen due to lack of funds.

She won't have any problems getting her CDL-A because she has a permanent residency card.

In the U.S., you either have to be a citizen or a permanent resident to apply for and obtain your CDL-A,

My question for you is, I wonder how hard it would be for you to get a Canadian CDL? Mght br another option.

You can't just go to another country and work, you need a visa that will allow you to do so. Doesn't matter if it's to America or from America to somewhere else, you have to have a visa and it is not easy to get one. I sponsored my Australian husband and it was a long a difficult process. Australia was even more difficult, I tried to immigrate there but I didn't meet all the requirements so, no visa for me, didn't even bother wasting money on the application (you have to pay to file and you might still lose, the US application cost over $1400 not including what we paid our attorney)

uscis.gov is where you want to go. See if you even potentially qualify before you get your hopes up further.