Truck Driver Resume Writing Guide with Job Description and Top Skills
Put your CDL type, endorsements, and clean driving record at the top of your truck driver resume. Show real numbers like safe miles driven and on-time delivery rates. Match your truck driver skills to each trucking job you apply for. Focus on things like HOS rules, route planning, and mechanical knowledge. Use a clean format with bullet points. This makes your driver qualifications easy to spot for busy hiring managers.
Your Route to a Better Trucking Job
A good truck driver resume can help you get your dream trucking job. Companies get many driver resume applications each day. Your CDL resume must stand out from others. It needs to show your truck driver skills, safety record, and special talents. This guide will help both new and expert drivers. You'll learn to create a driver resume that gets noticed and lands you better trucking jobs.
What Makes a Strong Truck Driver Resume
A great truck driver resume shows you're reliable and professional right away. Trucking companies need to trust you with expensive equipment and valuable cargo. Your resume is your first chance to prove you're the right driver for the job.
What Trucking Companies Look For
Hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds reading each resume. In this short time, they look for key things. They want to know you're safe and can be trusted with their trucks and cargo. They look for valid CDL with the right endorsements. They check for a clean driving record with no accidents. They want to see experience with certain trucks or freight types. Following all DOT rules is important to them. Being on time and professional matters too. Make these items easy to find on your resume. Use a clean layout so managers can quickly see your skills and work history.
Creating a Strong Resume Header
Your resume header is the first thing hiring managers see. It needs to clearly show your qualifications and how to reach you. Make it easy for them to contact you for an interview.
Your Contact Information
Put these items at the top of your resume:
Your full name (make it a bit bigger)
Your CDL class and endorsements
Your phone number (use one you answer often)
A professional email address
Your city and state (no need for full address)
Optional: LinkedIn or website
Example:
MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Class A CDL with Hazmat, Tanker, and Doubles/Triples Endorsements
Chicago, IL | (555) 123-4567 | [email protected]
Professional Summary: Make a Good First Impression
A strong summary on your truck driver resume grabs the recruiter's attention. Think of it as your 30-second pitch about your truck driver skills. This small section can have a big impact on getting a trucking job interview.
Write a Strong Profile
Your summary should be 3-4 short sentences. Show your experience, truck driver skills, and best traits as a driver. Think of it as your quick pitch to trucking companies.
For drivers with experience:
I'm a safe OTR driver with 7+ years and no accidents across 48 states. I haul refrigerated freight with 99.8% on-time deliveries. I handle cargo with care, follow DOT rules, and plan routes well to maximize driving time.
For new drivers:
I recently got my Class A CDL and have a clean driving record. I've trained in truck checks, safe driving, and proper loading. I worked 5 years in warehouses and know supply chains well. I aim to be a safe and reliable driver.
Key Skills: Show What You Do Best
Companies scan resumes quickly for specific skills they need. Your skills section helps your resume get past computer screening systems. A well-crafted skills section proves you have what it takes to succeed as a professional driver.
Skills That Make You Stand Out
Before listing your jobs, add a "Key Skills" section. Use 8-12 bullet points of your best driving skills. This gives a quick view of what you can do. It also helps your resume get through computer screening systems.
Important truck driver skills:
Following Hours of Service rules
Using electronic logs (ELDs)
Defensive driving
Truck inspections and basic repairs
Loading and unloading cargo
Finding the best routes
Driving in mountains
Handling hazardous materials
Good customer service
Border crossing paperwork
Driving in bad weather
Saving fuel while driving
Work History: Show Your Driving Jobs
Your work history on a truck driver resume proves you can handle the trucking job. This section carries the most weight with companies in the driver job market. Use specific examples to show you're experienced for the trucking job.
How to List Your Past Jobs
List your driving jobs from newest to oldest on your CDL resume. For each job, include: The company name and location. When you worked there (month/year). Your driver job title. 4-6 bullet points about your truck driver skills and duties.
Write Strong Bullet Points
Good bullet points show both tasks and results on your driver resume. Focus on how many miles you drove safely in previous trucking jobs. What types of trucks you drove matters too. Where you drove (states, regions) shows your range of experience. Special types of cargo you hauled can set you apart in the driver job market. Your on-time delivery rate proves reliability. How you saved fuel shows you're cost-conscious. Awards you earned prove your value. Loading/unloading duties show your full range of truck driver skills.
Example:
INTERSTATE LOGISTICS | Denver, CO | 05/2018–Present
OTR Truck Driver
- Drove 53' reefers in 38 states for 120,000 miles yearly with zero accidents
- Delivered 99.5% of loads on time while following all HOS rules
- Hauled temp-controlled medicine that needed careful handling
- Cut fuel use by 7% with smart routes and better shifting
- Named "Driver of the Quarter" twice for great service and reliability
What If You Have Little Experience?
New to truck driving or have job gaps in your driver resume? Show skills from other jobs that relate to trucking jobs. Work in warehouses, military, delivery, or even fixing your own car can show useful truck driver skills.
Education and Certifications: Show Your Credentials
Your licenses and certifications prove you're qualified for the trucking job. This section is critical for all truck driver resumes. Some driver job descriptions require special endorsements, so make these stand out.
Licenses and Training
This section should clearly show your CDL (with state and when it expires) on your truck driver resume. Your endorsements (Hazmat, Tanker, etc.) should be listed for trucking jobs. Training certificates (Smith System, etc.) add value to your driver resume. Other relevant training shows you're always learning. Include your high school diploma (no need for graduation date).
Example:
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING
- Commercial Driver's License Class A, Illinois (Exp. 06/2025)
- Endorsements: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T)
- FMCSA Hazmat Certification (2022)
- Smith System Safe Driving Certification (2021)
- Bad Weather Driving Training, Road Masters School (2020)
Extra Sections to Make Your Resume Better
Adding special sections can help your truck driver resume beat the competition. These extras prove you're more valuable for trucking jobs. Think about what makes you unique and highlight those truck driver skills.
Special Skills and Achievements
Add these sections if they make your CDL resume stronger for the trucking job market.
Show your safety record with miles without accidents on your driver resume. Include your clean driving record or safety awards. This proves you're reliable for trucking companies.
List your tech skills like dispatch systems or GPS tools on your truck driver resume. Knowledge of industry software makes you more valuable for trucking jobs.
Mention if you belong to professional truck driver groups like trucking associations. This shows you take your driver career seriously and stay informed about industry standards.
List other languages you speak on your CDL resume. This helps for routes in diverse areas or border crossings. Being bilingual is a big plus in driver job descriptions for many companies.
Making Your Resume Look Good
How your truck driver resume looks matters almost as much as what it says. A messy CDL resume suggests you might not be detailed in your driving. Clean formatting shows truck driver skills in organization and attention to detail.
How to Format Your Resume
Your truck driver resume should be 1-2 pages. One page is best unless you have 10+ years of trucking job experience. Keep it clean and neat with the same style throughout. Make it easy to read with bullet points and white space. Keep it simple without fancy graphics. Save it as a PDF so it keeps its format when sent to trucking companies.
Use a simple font like Arial or Times New Roman in size 10-12 for your driver resume. Make your name and section titles bold. Use bullet points instead of paragraphs for your work history to highlight your truck driver skills clearly.
Change Your Resume for Different Driving Jobs
Never use the exact same CDL resume for every trucking job application. Different driver job descriptions need different skills and experiences. Changing your truck driver resume for each position shows real interest.
Different Jobs Need Different Skills
Local, regional, and OTR trucking jobs need different truck driver skills. Change your driver resume for each type of job.
For local jobs, show your city driving skills. Mention making many stops each day. Highlight your customer service skills. Show you know local rules and roads.
For regional jobs, show how you balance home time and driving. List different delivery schedules you've worked. Show you know rules in multiple states. Show you can plan trips over several days.
For OTR/long-haul jobs, focus on your long-distance driving. Show you can manage time over days or weeks. Highlight your ability to solve problems alone. Show you can drive in all types of weather and road conditions.
Tips to Avoid Resume Mistakes
Even qualified drivers often miss opportunities because of simple resume errors. Small mistakes can make you look careless to potential employers. Review your resume carefully before sending it to make sure it's perfect.
Things That Can Cost You a Job
Even good drivers miss out on jobs when their resumes have these errors:
Not putting your CDL class and endorsements near the top
Using vague terms instead of specific numbers
Adding personal info that doesn't matter
Having spelling or grammar mistakes
Using an email that sounds unprofessional
Not explaining gaps between jobs
Listing old or expired certifications without notes
Conclusion: Your Resume Opens Doors
Your resume is more than paperwork. It's a tool to market yourself. Show your licenses, safety record, and skills clearly. Change each resume to fit the job you want. Use real numbers when you can. Keep your resume clean and easy to read.
The time you spend on your resume will help you get better jobs, higher pay, and better routes. Keep your resume updated with new skills and training. This will help you move up in your trucking career.