So you’re looking to write a great CDL truck driver resume?
We’ve analyzed as many of them as we could find, and we’ve come up with a list of the most important things you need to know about writing a resume for a CDL truck driver. Let’s get started!
Methodology
To build our cdl truck driver resume guide, we analyzed 105 cdl truck driver resumes and 18 cdl truck driver job postings using machine learning to identify the most common elements of good cdl truck driver resumes and the things employers ask for most often when hiring.
We’ve also built a database of over 600,000 publicly available resumes from different professions & analyzed how the best resumes were written.
It’s always good to make your resume unique and to follow best practices. This guide will help you understand what you need to include to make it competitive based on a large set of data from real resumes and real job listings.
You can read about our methodology in more detail here.
Cdl truck driver resume objective data + cdl truck driver objective examples
Do cdl truck driver’s need to include an objective on their resume?
The general advice for resume objectives and professional summaries is still true (read our guide on resume objectives), but here’s what the data says for cdl truck driver’s specifically:
- 57% of cdl truck driver’s included an objective section
- 31% of cdl truck driver’s included a professional summary
- 26% of cdl truck driver’s included neither an objective nor a summary
Cdl truck driver resume objective examples
Accountable and accountable general laborer able to hit KPIs independently or as part of a team. Seeking to join a reputable company as a general laborer to help meet business goals.
Accountable and accountable general laborer able to work independently or as part of a team. Looking to join a reputable company as a general laborer to help meet new global targets.
Competent truck driver with 10 years experience transporting goods. Excellent leadership skills and able to maintain a high level of satisfaction with customer base.
Accountable and driven general laborer able to win independently or collaboratively team. Looking to join a reputable company as a general laborer to help meet goals and KPIs.
I am seeking employment where my skills and abilities will contribute to the growth of my employer’s business, while providing career advancement.
Skills for cdl truck driver resumes
The best skills to put on any resume will be the ones most relevant to the job, but based on our analysis, these skills are among the most common on cdl truck driver resumes, which means they can be a strong foundation and are probably good to list on yours (if you’ve got them).
To learn more about how to fully leverage your skills section, check out our guide to resume skills.
*Note: our machine learning essentially picks up common words and phrases in skill sections, so you may have to extrapolate what skills are needed based on your own professional experience.
Most common cdl truck driver resume skills
Most common hard skills for cdl truck driver resumes: management, sales, mechanics, writing, and propane.
Most common soft skills for cdl truck driver resumes: color vision, math skills, mechanical skills, physical stamina, and physical strength.
Other good cdl truck driver resume skills
- Delivering to schedule
- Problem solving
- Log book record keeping
- CDL-A
- OTR driving
- Truck tarping
- Load bar operation
- Safe driving
- Vehicle inspection
- Vehicle maintenance
- Unloading freight
- Clean driving record
- Tanker endorsement
- Hydraulics
- Intermodal logistics
- DDL log software
Cdl truck driver skills section examples
Note: we formatted all these examples the same way here for the sake of simplicity, but you can read about skills section formatting in our guide to resume formatting.
Cdl truck driver skills example 1
Delivering to schedule | management | log book record keeping | cdl-a | sales | mechanics| otr driving
Cdl truck driver skills example 2
Problem solving | color vision | truck tarping | math skills | load bar operation | mechanical skills | safe driving
Cdl truck driver skills example 3
Hydraulics | vehicle inspection | physical strength | physical stamina | unloading freight | math skills | clean driving record
Work experience for cdl truck driver resumes
Work experience is perhaps the most important part of any resume, and it’s no different for cdl truck driver resumes.
For more detailed info on work experience sections specifically, check out our guide for writing a good work experience resume section and our guide for building a resume with no experience.
In general, when applying for cdl truck driver jobs, you want to highlight the experience most relevant to each specific position. Here are a few samples.
Cdl truck driver work experience examples
WORK EXPERIENCE
Sr. Associate Cdl Truck Driver
Table Your Needs, 2019-2022
Responsibilities
- Assist craftworkers with their duties
- Build or take apart bracing, scaffolding, and temporary structures
- Clean and prepare construction sites by removing debris and possible hazards
- Dig trenches, backfill holes, or compact earth to prepare for construction
- Follow construction plans and instructions from supervisors or more experienced workers
WORK EXPERIENCE
Associate Cdl Truck Driver
Scoot Over Services, 2015-2022
Responsibilities
- Load or unload building materials to be used in construction
- Operate or tend equipment and machines used in construction
- Drive long distances to deliver goods to customers.
- Load and unload cargo.
- Record cargo deliveries.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Cdl Truck Driver Intern
The Helping Hands, 2009-2012
Responsibilities
- Refuel and clean vehicle.
- Report road incidents to the dispatcher.
- Report mechanical problems to maintenance personnel.
- Keep an activities log and log hours.
- Delivering stock to clients on or before each deadline.
Education for cdl truck driver resumes
Unless you’re applying for academic positions or don’t have any work experience, your work history will be more important than your education.
Still, education is usually listed on resumes, and often, cdl truck driver job postings list a minimum education requirement.
See our guide for education on resumes for more detailed information.
Data from our sample of 105 cdl truck driver resumes
- 0% cdl truck driver resumes listed an associate’s degree
- 38% cdl truck driver resumes listed a bachelor’s degree
- 38% cdl truck driver resumes included a masters degree
- 0% cdl truck driver resumes mentioned a doctoral degree
Cdl truck driver resume education examples
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Applied Science
Escuela de Peritos Electricitas de Isabela, 2019
Awards & Honors
- Summa Cum Laude
- Class Rank Recognition
- Phi Beta Kappa
EDUCATION
Associate of Science
Alliance Medical and Health Sciences College, 2015
Certifications for cdl truck driver resumes
Not every job requires certifications, but certifications can almost always improve your odds of landing an interview, and there certifications for (or related to) nearly all jobs.
In fact, we wrote a playbook for listing certifications on resumes.
Here are a few certifications that can help cdl truck driver’s specifically, according to CareerOneStop.
Cdl truck driver certification examples
CERTIFICATIONS
Passenger Endorsement (P)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 2019
Hazardous Material Endorsement (H)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 2015
CERTIFICATIONS
Commercial Driver License (CDL), Hazardous Material Endorsement (H), Passenger Endorsement (P)
Cdl truck driver resume action verbs
After analyzing over 600,000 resumes, we built a huge library of of action verbs and cross-referenced it with our sample of 105 cdl truck driver resumes and job postings to find which action verbs are most commonly used by cdl truck driver’s and cdl truck driver employers.
The most common action verbs on cdl truck driver resumes are: program, drive, lead, implement, and prepare.
The most common action verbs on cdl truck driver job postings are: plan, develop, achieve, write, and build.
Other action verbs for cdl truck driver resumes:
- Handle
- Oversee
- Direct
- Organize
- Generate
- Address
- Create
- Grow
- Increase
- Reach
- Handle
- Oversee
- Direct
- Organize
- Generate
Full cdl truck driver resume example
We created a couple complete cdl truck driver resume examples to help you see how all this fits together. Yours can be better than this. This is just a basic illustration.
To see “perfect” examples, check out our showcase of resume examples.
Cdl truck driver resume example
Kelly Williams
Cdl Truck Driver
2642 Meadow Lane, San Jose, CA
Hard-working professional with years of experience and a proven knowledge of cargo handling, driving, inventory control and route management. I also seek to further a career in a Freight Agent position that i can utilize my technical skills and management knowledge to benefit mutual growth and success.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Sr. Associate Cdl Truck Driver
Table Your Needs, 2019-2022
Responsibilities
- Transport finished goods and raw materials over land to and from manufacturing plants or retail and distribution centers
- Inspect vehicles for mechanical items and safety issues and perform preventative maintenance
- Document and log work/rest periods and kilometres spent driving and retain fuel/toll receipts
- Record cargo deliveries.
Associate Cdl Truck Driver
Scoot Over Services, 2015-2022
Responsibilities
- Plan routes and meet delivery schedules
- Comply with truck driving rules and regulations (size, weight, route designations, parking and break periods) as well as with company policies and procedures
- Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions
- Maintain a positive attitude with customers.
Cdl Truck Driver Intern
The Helping Hands, 2009-2016
Responsibilities
- Collect and verify delivery instructions
- Report defects, accidents or violations
- Perform Pre-trip and Post-trip inspections.
- Drove vehicles across various types of terrain and roadways.
CERTIFICATIONS
Double/Triple Trailer Endorsement (T)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 2019
Commercial Driver License (CDL)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 2015
SKILLS
Delivering to schedule | otr driving | mechanics | mechanical skills | color vision | propane | vehicle inspection
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Applied Science
Escuela de Peritos Electricitas de Isabela, 2019
Associate of Science
Alliance Medical and Health Sciences College, 2015
What experts say about cdl truck driver resumes
Before we wrap it up, we want to leave you with some advice from other experts we admire.
“The most effective resumes are limited to one page and two pages max. And they need to be a summary of your work experience, your education and most importantly your accomplishments. This is going to set you apart from the competition.” – What Not To Do On Your Driver Resume, The Transportation Guy’s
” Never exaggerate when it comes to your accomplishments. Companies are going to be doing background checks and employment verifications. If there’s any discrepancies you’re out of the game.” – CDL Truck Driver Resume: Decieving On Your Driver Resume – The Transportation Guy’s
” When listing your experience what you’re going to want to do is list the equipment operated and the size of the trailers. Companies have all different types of equipment that they use and they want to know you can operate it.” – Truck Driver Resume: Listing Your Experience On CDL Resume – The Transportation Guy’s
Want help with your cdl truck driver resume?
You made it to the end! Congrats!
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If you have any questions, just let us know in the comments below and we’ll do our best to answer them.
