This Ontario dad's truck-driving career is stalled until drive-test centres reopen

Shayne Ridout set his sights on a new career driving trucks after losing his job at an automotive-parts plant in Cambridge, Ont., but his dream has been stalled due to pandemic shutdowns.

"I know that there's a huge shortage of drivers and that there's lots of work," said the father of three."I feel like it's something that I am very interested in doing, something I can be proud to call my career."

With drive-test centres stillclosed, heonly has a G2 driver's licence and needs to pass another road test before he can pursue a trucking career.

It's incredibly frustrating and disheartening tobe stopped by something so small."- Shayne Ridout

The centres are tentatively slated to open June 14 under Step 1of Ontario'sroadmap for reopening, but there's an extensive backlog of people also waiting for road testing.

In January, The Ontario Ministry of Transportation announced it would behiring 84 new examiners to help clear the backlog, but only 35 examiners have come onboard so far.

While he waits, Ridout hassupported his family by working temporary jobs and collecting employment insurance. He and his wife and children have also moved in with Ridout's in-laws in St. Thomas.

It's all pretty stressful, he said.

• Cancelled road tests, looming backlog leaving would-be Ontario drivers feeling 'hopeless'

"My wife has emailed [Premier] Doug Ford with no response," saidRidout who also hopes to attend a training course down the road.

Ridout said he's frustrated.

"I'm hoping to get a job, bemaking good money, get benefits back.I don't have any benefits for myself, my wife,my children. I'mliving with my in-laws. We definitely would like to have our own place again," he said.

"It's incredibly frustrating and disheartening tobe stopped by something so small."