Truck Driver Resume Example

Study The Job Description

The job description can help you understand exactly what the employer is searching for in a candidate. Review the list of qualifications on the job posting, and identify the ones that best describe you. For example, the job description might ask for someone with a certain amount of experience and a . If you meet these requirements, you could include them in your objective statement. You can also research any qualifications you want to learn more about, which may even prepare you for questions in the job interview.

Related:

strongest skills in your objective statement. A few examples include knowledge of navigation, familiarity with road laws and the ability to keep detailed records. Other skills that may be worth reflecting upon include time management, customer service, public safety and security implementation, physical strength and endurance, vehicle operation monitoring and heavy machinery maintenance.

Related: Truck Driving Skills: Definition and Examples

Examples Of Work Experience For An Experienced Truck Driver

• Carefully planned the travel routes cutting down delivery time by 15% and fuel cost by a staggering 20%
• Operated a 15 ton freight truck across 30 states in the US, hauling hazardous waste material
• Drove average 4000 miles per week as a certified CDL-A driver with 100% safe travel records
• Performed the required routine maintenance on time having zero trouble from vehicles on the work
• In depth knowledge in vehicle maintenance maintained vehicle log

Truck Driver Resume Sample

Check out these truck driver resume tips.

If your career is the open road, you want to take the route that leads you to the jobs. To do that, it helps to have a complete and customized truck driver resume that demonstrates your experience. View our sample resume for a truck driver below to help get your own resume in gear. You can also download our truck driver resume template to write at your own pace.

You can bypass the traditional truck driver resume objective and take a different route with a qualifications summary. Use bullet points to clearly call out what it is that makes you so good at this job. You’ll notice that timeliness, good customer service, and specialized knowledge of equipment are often included on truck driver resume examples. Free tip: Provide examples of your reliability in your Work Experience, as employers want to hire people they can depend on.

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How To Write A Truck Driver Resume Summary Or Resume Objective

One thing recruiters love is getting their hands on a resume that is clear to read, with absolutely no walls of text to distract them from the key information on the applicant.

To make sure you get the attention of recruiters in a snap, there are certain tips and tricks of the trade that are worth knowing. First of all, youll need a hook to reel in the attention of the recruiter and this is where a resume summary or a resume objective gets the job done.

A truck driver summary for resume showcases your work experience and professional accomplishments. If youre a truck driver that carries a lot of experience, the resume summary section of your resume will show you in the best light.

On the other hand, the resume objective for truck drivers will emphasize what youre looking for in a job, or your passion for driving precious cargo.

Flatbed Tow Truck Driverresume Examples & Samples

• Load and unload vehicles from transport truck by use of winch, chains, blocks, electric controls, etc
• Secure vehicles and vehicle parts with chains, straps or other safe means
• Able to meet daily deadlines efficiently, work well under stress, and in inclement weather conditions
• Basic computer and data entry skills required

• Start vehicles, check fuel gages, mark vehicles that need fuel, and return to fuel them
• Report inoperable vehicles to Supervisor or Assistant Manager
• Assist customers in locating vehicles
• Assist in sale day duties as needed
• Ability to work safely in a fast paced environment

• Must possess valid Class A driver license
• Must possess valid DOT physical
• Minimum of 5 years over the road driving experience with excellent safety/driving record
• Must have forklift license
• Ability to sit for long periods
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs
• Available to work overtime and weekends as needed

• One yr professional driving experience
• Must pass DOT physical
• Exemplary skill, attitude, and job performance
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws
• Must maintain a valid CDL Class A

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How To Structure Your Truck Driver Resume

Think of your resume as a highly organized marketing tool. Its sole purpose is to get you to a job interview. For that reason its a good idea to make sure your resume is structured in a manner that lets the recruiter immediately know your work history and skill sets.

Thats why we always recommend the reverse-chronological resume format unless youre changing your career.

The structure should follow this:

• Employment history and job experience
• Any relevant additional sections

In the following I will go through each section.

Add Contact Info To Your Resume

A truck driver sample resume is no different from any other resume in terms of contact information and its importance. Contact information is the key line in your driver resume because if you make a mistake in it, youâll have no one to blame for a lack of response from recruiters.

Therefore, put your address, phone number, and email in your sample truck driver resume. Let your recruiters decide whichever way is best for them to reach out to you. If you hesitate about data security, do not leave your home address. Instead, mention only your city and state.

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Truck Driver Resume Education Section

Dont worry if you dont have a wall of diplomas and accolades to show for yourself when trying to land a truck driving job. Since jobs in the truck-driving sector wont require industry-specific diplomas, it makes it easier for everyone with a CDL to try their luck.

Its not a big deal if the education section on your truck driver resume isnt a page long as long as you have a high school diploma and relevant certificates, youll be good to go.

To make sure youve done your best to showcase your education, include the following details in the education section:

• School name: List the whole name of the school you attended and the city.
• Duration: List the years youve spent in school, from to
• Degree: Name the type of degree youve received.

This is what the education section on your truck driver resume should look like:

Right

• I got my high school diploma

The major differences between the two examples are obvious. The latter features too little information which does not relate to the job you are applying for.

Also, the wrong example does not shine a light on the education level and abilities the applicant has, and the GPA aspect does nothing special to make the section stand out.

The Guide To Resume Tailoring

Guide the recruiter to the conclusion that you are the best candidate for the cdl truck driver job. Its actually very simple. Tailor your resume by picking relevant responsibilities from the examples below and then add your accomplishments. This way, you can position yourself in the best way to get hired.

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Truck Driver Resume Example

Truck drivers truly do not receive the credit they deserve. After all, the people behind the wheels of these all-important vehicles are essential to keep this country running. Food, water, gasoline, medical supplies, and even more. If anyone has purchased it recently they can likely thank a truck driver for getting it to them.

Truck drivers have been especially important in the last couple of years as the pandemic struck. In fact, because of it, the demand for licensed truck drivers has hit an all-time high.

Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, states that:

We came into the pandemic with a shortage of about 61,000 drivers. Im certain the new numbers when they come out will be a bit more inflated because of the pandemic. Its a long-term problem that we need to do multiple things to address.

And one of those things appears to be wage raises. The latest salary survey data suggest that the median salary of truck drivers, working national irregular routes now sits at $53,000 up by $7,000 compared to 2013. Private fleet drivers, in turn, gained a lump pay rise of 18% to $86,000 annually. Beyond that, the survey suggests that employers are attracting drivers with better benefits and five-figure sign-up bonuses.

So if you are looking for a new role, its time to dust off your truck driver resume. To help you with that, weve prepared a sample truck driver resume with extra tips on resume writing, formatting, and layout.

Truck Driver Resume Education Example: On The Road Already

One undeniable attraction of a truck-driving career is the freedom to go to work with a high-school diploma and just a few months of specialized training. While your grandmother might have told you that you have to go to college, it has become prohibitively expensive for many, and lets face it: Some people just dont want or need to.

Student loan debt has become a widespread crisis, reaching an all-time high of $1.4 trillion in 2019 in the U.S. alone. That averaged out to $35,359 per borrower in 2018, with out-of-state tuition and fees of $26,290 a year at public colleges and $35,830 at private colleges.

So while it might sound heretical to say that college isnt for everyone, its true. Truck drivers need a high school diploma or the equivalent, followed by three to six months of classes at a private truck-driving school or a program at a community college. After completing this coursework, recognized by a certificate of completion, they must pass tests to receive a commercial drivers license . CDL tests include both a written exam and a test behind the wheel. Additional testing is needed to qualify drivers to transport hazardous materials. Regulations require CDL holders to maintain a clean driving record and pass a physical exam every two years, and they are also subject to random drug and alcohol tests.

Some of the qualities that all truck drivers must have, according to the BLS:

Below is the education section from a truck driver resume example.

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Add Other Sections To Your Effective Resume

A great sample resume truck driver can include such sections as community involvement or volunteer experience. If you have some interesting facts to share, do mention them in a separate section. It will prove that you are a communicative and people-oriented person.

Also, if you have served in the military, mention that in your resume sample truck driver. The army has always been associated with physical endurance and discipline. Those skills are useful for drivers as well.

Regardless of all rules and standards, your resume is your document. You, as an author, make a final decision on what to include in it. There are a few details that you can include to show that you are a perfect truck driver for a job. For example, some people prefer to mention their hobbies and interests or name the church they attend.

How To Describe Your Truck Driver Experience

One thing you want to keep in mind when listing your truck driving experience is precision. You dont want to seem sloppy or too evasive. List all of your truck-driving experiences, no matter how insignificant they might seem.

Even if youve been with a previous employer for a month, include it in the resume it might just be the type of experience the recruiter is looking for.

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Action Verbs To Utilize In Your Truck Driver Resume

As a truck driver, your ability to do your job well is pretty clear-cut: either you delivered the cargo on time or you didnt. So when you write your resume, avoid using words such as responsible for or tasked with.

Instead, use action verbs to describe your accomplishments and work-related responsibilities. This helps give the hiring manager or recruiter a better understanding of exactly how you contributed to an organization.

For truck drivers, youll want to use action verbs in bullet points that are synonymous with logistics, driving, safety, time, and teamwork. Heres an example of three great bulleted experience points from our truck driver resume, with the action verbs highlighted:

• Ensure 95% on-time deliveries. Coordinate with management to carefully plan alternative routes to avoid high traffic conditions and mitigate safety concerns.

• Reviewed and organized stock inventory before each departure, correcting log mistakes and errors.

• Adhered to and trained novice drivers on all organizational, DOT, and OSHA rules and guidelines regarding handling of hazardous waste materials. Develop company SOPs for accidents and emergencies.

Additionally, weve included a list of other truck driver-friendly actions verbs below:

Fuel Truck Driver/terminal Operator

Manage the daily incoming and outgoing of petroleum products in a safe and environmentally appropriate manner. Provide great customer service to transport drivers.

• Perform automatic and manual readings of all meters and gauges throughout the terminal to ensure
• Calibrates various pieces of terminal equipment for proper usage.
• Conducts daily, weekly, and monthly inspections of load racks and terminal areas to ensure compliance of company and DOT regulations.
• Monitors terminal tanks before receipt of petroleum and products by truck, railcar or barge.
• Completes and validates work permits and other safety related paperwork and procedures such as lock-out/tag-out operations.
• Determine efficient routes and maintain driver safety
• Experienced pre-trip and post-trip safety inspections on all equipment
• Load truck at terminal according to dispatched gallons and grade.
• Provides great customer service to convenient store managers and operators.

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Team Leader / Cdl Truck Driverresume Examples & Samples

• Truck Drivers are responsible for doing daily inspection of truck and keeping up with miles
• Able to understand instructions whether they are written or verbal, and follow said instructions
• Drive 18 wheeler to offsite
• Read/Write/Speak English
• Knowledge of safe work practices

• Load trailers and schedule daily runs to meet customer delivery requirements
• Maintain driver’s hours of service by using Turnpike and/or paper log book reporting
• Have a current Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License , issued by the state in which the candidate resides with all the relevant endorsements
• Three years commercial driving experience, compliant with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and DOT regulations, in the past five years

How To Write A Truck Driver Resume Experience Section

Truck Driver Resumes Job Experience Checklist:

• Use 4-6 bullet points per job title
• Dont go further than a decade behind when describing your job history, unless youre applying for an executive position
• Combine job responsibilities as well as achievements with numbers in results when you describe your past work
• Start each sentence with a power verb and avoid overused buzzwords
• Use either C-A-R or S-T-A-R methodology, when describing your experience.

The work experience samples below come from real Truck Driver resumes that got people hired at top companies. You can use them as an inspiration to build your own resume:

• Operate a roll-off, cherry picker , rear loader truck and other collection vehicles with hydraulic controls on truck.
• Transport materials to and from specified destination i.e., landfills, neighborhood depository sites, transfer station and resource recovery plants.
• Perform pre and post-trip maintenance related vehicle checks and operator services i.e., fluid levels, air pressures, washing.
• Complete and submit records on check-in time, number and tonnage of loads, amount of fuel used, and odometer readings.

PRO TIP

Show off real numbers that display your accomplishments in past roles. Instead of listing out your responsibilities as Truck Driver, talk about the measurable impact you made to their business. Did you boost their revenue? Increase customer retention? Mention your proudest points on your resume.

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Salary & Employment Rates For Truck Drivers

A truck drivers job role is not merely driving a truck from A to Z. It involves more responsibilities, planning, and endurance. However, the salaries are considerably good for any employee in any sector.

The average salary of a truck driver in the USA is $60,000/ year

The pay could go up to $90,000/year based on your experience and the value you bring in. For example, apart from driving the truck, you will have responsibilities such as loading unloading, maintaining accurate records, performing vehicle inspections, and minor repairs.

Moreover, if you are a CDL truck driver, you will be paid more than the average.

Resume Examples & Samples

• Drives tractor-trailer combination, applying knowledge of commercial driving regulations
• Drives truck to weigh station before and after loading, and along route to document weight and conform to state regulations
• Maintains driver log according to I.C.C. regulations
• Performs routine duties with minimal supervision
• Comply with all safety policies, practices and procedures. Report all unsafe activities to Supervisor and/or Human Resources
• Minimum 3 months experience
• A commercial drivers license

• Hauling tankers of caprolactam and washwater both within the plant and between local Honeywell Plants
• Handling of Shipping Documents
• Spotting loaded and empty trailers
• Driving designated routes as assigned
• Minimum 5 years verifiable tractor trailer over the road driving experience together with a minimum of 1 Year tanker experience
• Must have a valid CDL with Tanker endorsement and be DOT certifiable
• No license suspensions, revocations, DUI, or drug violations or reckless operation violations. No more than one chargeable/preventable accident in the last 5 years. No more than 3 moving violations in the last 5 years or no more than 1 preventable accident in the past 5 years
• Ability to communicate effectively with all those involved in the delivery process

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