Free Guide: How to Write a Professional Truck Driver Resume That Gets You Hired

The top of your resume should be clear and concise. Unlike other professions, a truck driver's contact section must include specific licensing details right away. Recruiters need to know if you are legally qualified before they read another word.

• Full Name: Use your legal name as it appears on your license.
• Phone Number: Ensure your voicemail is professional and not full.
• Email Address: Use a simple address like j.doe@email.com. Avoid nicknames.
• Location: City and State is sufficient.
• CDL Classification: Explicitly state "CDL Class A" or "CDL Class B" in your header.

Forget the "Objective" statement. Recruiters know your objective is to get a job. Instead, use a Professional Summary. This is a 2-3 sentence "elevator pitch" that summarizes your years of experience, primary equipment types, and your safety record.

Example: "Safety-conscious CDL Class A Driver with over 8 years of experience in OTR and regional hauling. Specialized in flatbed and oversized loads with a 100% accident-free record over 750,000 miles. Committed to punctuality and FMCSA compliance."

This is the "meat" of your resume. List your work history in reverse-chronological order (most recent job first). For every position, include the company name, your dates of employment, and your role.

When describing your duties, be specific about the equipment and routes:

• Equipment: Did you pull dry vans, reefers, tankers, or lowboys? Mention the transmission types if relevant (Manual vs. Automatic).
• Routes: Specify if you worked Local, Regional, or Over-the-Road (OTR). Mention specific regions if you have experience in challenging conditions like mountain driving or heavy snow.
• Achievements: Use numbers. Instead of saying "Delivered goods," say "Maintained a 98% on-time delivery rate over 2,500 miles weekly."

Endorsements make you more valuable and often lead to higher pay. Create a dedicated section for your technical skills and certifications.

Top Endorsements to List:

• (H) Hazardous Materials (Hazmat)
• (N) Tanker Vehicles
• (X) Combined Hazmat and Tanker
• (T) Double/Triple Trailers
• (P) Passenger

Other Key Skills: ELD proficiency (Samsara, Motive, etc.), Pre-trip/Post-trip inspections, basic mechanical troubleshooting, and load securement techniques.

In trucking, your safety record is your most important asset. If you have a clean MVR (Motor Vehicle Record), shout it from the rooftops. If you have received awards, include them in a "Safety & Awards" section.

• "Million Mile" Safe Driving Awards.
• Employee of the Month/Year.
• Clean Level I and Level II roadside inspections.
• Zero points on CDL for [X] consecutive years.

Trucking recruiters often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes. To ensure your resume gets through, follow these formatting rules:

• Keep it simple: Use standard fonts like Arial or Calibri. Avoid heavy graphics or complex tables.
• Use Bullet Points: Large blocks of text are hard to read. Use bullets for your job duties and skills.
• Length: One page is usually enough. If you have 20+ years of experience, two pages are acceptable, but keep the most relevant info on the first page.
• PDF Format: Save your resume as a PDF to ensure the formatting stays the same on every device.