Truck Driver Resume—Examples and Skills + No Experience

You’ve got the driving skills. You’re ready, willing, and able to get on the road. But the hiring boss doesn’t know unless you show him. Do it with this truck driver resume sample.

Tom Gerencer
Tom Gerencer
Career Expert
Truck Driver Resume—Examples and Skills + No Experience

The struggle is real. You apply and apply, but hear nothing back. The problem? It’s probably your truck driver resume. Don’t hit the panic button. The right resume can fast-lane your job search.

In this guide:

  • A truck driving resume sample better than most.
  • How to make a strong truck driver job description for resumes.
  • How to write a resume for truck driver jobs that wakes employers up.
  • Why you can’t just list truck driver skills (and what to do instead).

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Truck Driver Resume Example You Can Copy and Use

Bob Honzo

OTR Truck Driver

Personal Info

Phone: 225-454-0115

E-mail: bobzhonzo@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/bobzhonzo

twitter.com/bobzhonzo

Summary

Licensed OTR Truck Driver with 5+ years of experience. Seeking to deliver on time for Yellow. Have CDL license with 100% clean driving record. At Berube International, drove average of 4,300 miles per week while meeting delivery schedules 95% on-time. Met all drug test requirements. Established reputation for safe driving and efficiency.

Certifications

  • CDL Class A
  • FAST Card

Experience

CDL-A OTR Truck Driver

Berube International

2015–2019

  • Drove 4,300 miles per week, meeting 95% of delivery schedules.
  • Maintained 97% client satisfaction rating for undamaged goods.
  • Kept 100% clean driving record at all times.
  • Met 100% of drug test requirements.
  • Recognized 2x by management for efficiency and safe driving.
  • Said "yes" to 5+ requests per year for additional hauls.
  • Kept accurate log for all driving days.

Dump Truck Driver

Castle Rock Stone

2014–2015

  • Drove quarry dump truck 5 days a week.
  • Performed demanding work in 10-hour shifts.
  • Worked full year without a single sick day.
  • Delivered crushed rock to customers on time.

Education

Coastal Truck Driving School

Graduated with Certification, 2014

Grant Senior High

2010–2014

  • Varsity football team.
  • Excelled in vocational technical coursework.

Skills:

  • Clean driving record
  • Flatbed tarping
  • OTR driving
  • Vehicle maintenance
  • Good judgement
  • Honesty
  • Work ethic
  • Delivering to schedule

Additional Activities

  • Adhere to gym workout routine 2x per week.
  • Maintain cardiovascular health with 2-mile walks 5x per week.

Volunteer Work

Walk dogs 1 day per week at Prudhomme County Shelter.

Truck Drivers transport goods from one location to another. They must ensure the safe and timely delivery of goods while adhering to all traffic laws and safety regulations. Truck Drivers must also perform inspections and maintenance on their vehicles.

Here’s how to write a truck driver resume that works:

1. Select the Right Truck Driver Resume Format

Truck driver resumes have to look right. Employers do care about the format of a resume. Here are the top-line tips:

Truck Driver Resume Format

Expert Hint: Truck drivers can make $70,000 or more, but most don’t. A well-formatted truck driving resume can get you paid more, fast.

2. Add a Truck Driver Resume Objective or Summary

 

Most resumes only get a glance. To get hired, you need to stand out. So catch their eye with a mini-summary of your resume. We call it a resume profile. It’s a short packing list for your career. Add:

  1. An adjective (licensed, reliable)
  2. The words “truck driver” ( with OTR, box truck, bus, etc.)
  3. Years of experience (2+, 4+)
  4. How & who you’ll help (deliver on time for Yellow)
  5. Best 2–3 truck driver moments (drove average of 4,300 miles per week...)

And—write it last to make it easy.

These driver resume summary examples show the route:

Truck Driver Resume Summary—Example

Good Example
Licensed OTR Truck Driver with 5+ years of experience. Seeking to deliver on time for Yellow. Have CDL license with 100% clean driving record. At Berube International, drove average of 4,300 miles per week while meeting delivery schedules 95% on-time. Met all drug test requirements. Established reputation for safe driving and efficiency.
Bad Example
Experienced truck driver, skilled in flatbed tarping, OTR driving, and vehicle maintenance. Recognized as being a dependable driver who gets things done and pays attention to safety. Can be relied on to be on time every time and easy to get along with.

That first sample blows the doors off. So many deep details. But—

A truck driver resume with no experience still needs evidence of skills. That's where a resume objective goes into high gear.

Entry-Level Truck Driver Resume Objective

Good Example
Licensed truck driver with skills in flatbed tarping and vehicle maintenance. Seeking to deliver on time for Berube International. As dump truck driver at Castle Rock Stone, drove quarry truck 5 days per week in 10-hr shifts with 95% on-time delivery.
Bad Example
Entry-level truck driver, seeking full-time OTR truck driver work. Haven’t yet held a full-time position but I worked as a dump truck driver at Castle Rock Stone. Dependable, hard-working, and can be trusted to deliver to customers on time.

The second of those entry-level truck driver resume examples makes empty promises. The first delivers a lot of measured proof.

Expert Hint: Find truck driver jobs on Indeed or Google Jobs. But apply on the trucking company’s website. That way they’ll actually see your application.

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3. Supercharge Your Truck Driver Job Description and Skills Section

Most CDL resumes botch their job descriptions. They say, “I did a lot of truck driver things.” But without proof and evidence, employers ignore them. To write a great truck driver job description:

  1. Read the job posting to see the skills to put on your resume.
  2. Put those resume keywords in your description.
  3. Show results you got, with numbers.

Do it like the first of these CDL truck driver resume samples:

Say the job ad wants these truck driver skills: OTR driving, clean driving record, drug free, efficiency.

Truck Driver Job Description for Resume [Sample]

Good Example

Experience

CDL-A OTR Truck Driver

Berube International

2015–2019

  • Drove OTR 4,300 miles per week, meeting 95% of delivery schedules.
  • Kept 100% clean driving record at all times.
  • Met 100% of drug test requirements.
  • Recognized 2x by management for efficiency and safe driving.
Bad Example
  • Drove truck on long hauls, meeting delivery schedules.
  • Maintained high level of client satisfaction for undamaged goods.
  • Recognized for safe driving.
  • Kept accurate log for all driving days.

The first of those truck driver resume examples shows skills they want + numbers:

  1. OTR driving (4,300 miles per week, 95% on time)
  2. Clean driving record (100%)
  3. Drug free (100%)
  4. Efficiency (recognized 2x)

The second isn’t bad! But it doesn’t clamp you to this job.

Here’s an entry-level resume example: The job ad wants these truck driver skills: professional driving, dependability, on-time delivery.

Entry-Level Truck Driver Resume Job Description [Example]

Good Example

Dump Truck Driver

Castle Rock Stone

2014–2015

  • Drove quarry dump truck 5 days a week.
  • Performed demanding work in 10-hour shifts.
  • Dependable—worked full year without a single sick day.
  • Delivered crushed rock to customers on time.
Bad Example

Dump Truck Driver

Castle Rock Stone

2014–2015

  • Drove quarry dump truck 5 days a week.
  • Performed demanding work in 10-hour shifts.
  • Worked full year without a single sick day.
  • Delivered crushed rock to customers on time.

And now the next part—the right truck driver skills. Show 5-10 of the most relevant ones on your resume. Use these truck driver resume skills to start:

Truck Driver Resume Skills

Hard Skills

Soft Skills

CDL Class A

Interpersonal Skills

Keeping a Log Book

Judgement

OTR Driving

Problem Solving

Load Bar Operation

Honesty

Flatbed Tarping

Work Ethic

Clean Driving Record

Communication

Vehicle Maintenance

Physically Fit

Vehicle Inspection

Reliability

Unloading Freight

Coordination

Safe Driving

Safety

Expert Hint: With a massive truck driver shortage, shouldn’t getting a job be easier? Getting bad jobs is easier. Customize your resume to land a good one with high pay.

4. Turn Boring Education to a Reason to Hire You

Truck drivers don’t need PhDs. But all resumes need education sections.

Here’s the trick: Use yours to catch the boss’ eye. This CDL truck driver resume sample nails it:

Truck Driver Resume Example—Education

Good Example

Education

Coastal Truck Driving School

Graduated with Certification, 2014

Grant Senior High

2010–2014

  • Varsity football team.
  • Excelled in vocational technical coursework.

A few eye-catching facts can make them remember you.

5. Add More to Your Truck Driver Resume

You need a certification on a resume for a truck driving job. But—Did you know other sections can get you noticed? Add 1–2 of these sections:

These truck driver resume examples show how:

Truck Driver Resume—Extra Sections

Good Example

Certifications

  • CDL Class A
  • FAST Card

Additional Activities

  • Adhere to gym workout routine 2x per week.
  • Maintain cardiovascular health with 2-mile walks 5x per week.

Volunteer Work

Walk dogs 1 day per week at Prudhomme County Shelter.

Bad Example

Additional Activities

  • Walking
  • Playing guitar

There’s nothing wrong with playing guitar. But the first of those truck driver resume examples shows dependability and fitness.

Expert Hint: Write a cover letter. Resumes for truck drivers that add cover letters get more notice. That can mean more eye-time with the hiring manager. You can learn how to write a cover letter from our guide.

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Key Points

For a truck driver resume that functions:

  • Use the truck driver resume template up top. It highlights your best on-the-road moments.
  • Pick the right resume keywords from the truck driver job description online.
  • Write resume sections with the skills the job asks for. Show the results you got in past jobs.
  • Include your CDL certification. Add “extra” sections like interests or volunteer work to show you’re no amateur.

Got questions on how to write great resumes for truck driver jobs? Not sure how to show truck driver on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Tom Gerencer

Having published over 200 career-advice articles, Tom Gerencer is a career expert who covers the whole array of job-seeking topics for people at all career stages, from interns to C-suite members. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages.

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