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Truck Driver resume

A truck driver resume that opens with "safe, reliable driver with a clean record" wastes its most valuable line, because a dispatcher cannot tell from that whether to call you. What sorts you into a stack is the freight: your CDL class and endorsements (Hazmat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples), the trailer types you have actually pulled, and whether you run OTR, regional, or dedicated local. Put those facts where they read at a glance, then let the work history carry the proof a recruiter weighs next, your safety record, miles logged, on-time delivery, and DOT inspection history, written as outcomes rather than duties.

ATS ready
Yara-Osei-Truck-Driver-Resume.pdfBuilt with Resimay →
Yara Osei
CDL Class A Driver | Hazmat & Tanker Endorsed | 480,000 Accident-Free Miles
[email protected] · (555) 319-5963 · Fort Worth, TX · linkedin.com/in/yara-osei
Summary

OTR and regional truck driver with 9 years operating tractor-trailers across 48 states. Holds CDL Class A with Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), and Doubles/Triples (T) endorsements plus a current DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate. 480,000 verified accident-free miles, 98 percent on-time delivery, and a clean MVR with zero preventable incidents or HOS violations.

Experience
Over-the-Road Truck Driver2020 - Present
Lone Star Freight Lines
  • Drove 130,000 miles annually hauling dry van and reefer freight across 48 states, holding a 98 percent on-time delivery rate with zero preventable accidents
  • Logged Hours of Service through Motive ELD with 100 percent compliance, maintaining a clean record across more than 2,400 driving hours per year
  • Hauled Hazmat loads under H endorsement, completing pre-trip and post-trip DOT inspections and placarding in line with FMCSA 49 CFR requirements
  • Cut idle time 14 percent by adjusting route timing and following fuel-efficient driving practices, lowering fuel cost per mile across the assigned lane
Regional CDL Driver2017 - 2020
Brazos Valley Distribution
  • Ran dedicated regional routes across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, averaging 11 stops per shift with consistent on-time arrivals
  • Operated tanker equipment under N endorsement, transporting bulk liquids and managing load surge on grades and curves
  • Secured flatbed freight with chains, binders, and straps to DOT cargo securement standards, passing 100 percent of roadside inspections with no out-of-service violations
  • Logged zero unsafe-driving or HOS-compliance violations over three years, keeping clean roadside inspections that supported the carrier's CSA targets
Local Delivery Driver2015 - 2017
Tri-County Building Supply
  • Delivered building materials on day-cab routes, completing daily DVIRs and reporting maintenance issues before they grounded equipment
  • Backed into tight residential and job-site docks using mirrors and the GOAL (Get Out And Look) method without contact incidents
  • Verified bills of lading and collected proof-of-delivery signatures, keeping paperwork discrepancies under 1 percent
Skills

CDL Class A · Hazmat (H) endorsement · Tanker (N) endorsement · Doubles/Triples (T) endorsement · DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate · Hours of Service (HOS) / ELD logging · Pre-trip and post-trip inspections · Dry van, reefer, and flatbed freight · Cargo securement · Route planning and GPS navigation · Clean MVR and roadside inspection record

Education
Class A CDL Program, Lone Star Truck Driving Academy, Fort Worth, TX, 2015. TWIC card holder. Smith System defensive driving certified.

A worked example for a fictional candidate. Copy the structure, not the details. Swap in your own real experience.

Keyword match

Keywords ATS systems scan for

Use the ones that are genuinely true for you, in your own words. Mirror the exact phrasing from the job posting where it matches.

CDL Class AHazmat endorsementTanker endorsementDoubles/Triples endorsementDOT complianceHours of Service (HOS)ELDpre-trip inspectiondry vanreeferflatbedclean MVR
What recruiters look for

How to make this resume stronger

Specific to truck driver roles, not generic advice.

  • Put your CDL and endorsements in the header

    Dispatchers and ATS filters match drivers to loads by license type, so list your CDL class, endorsement letters (H, N, T, X), and DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate status at the top. Do not bury them in a skills section where a recruiter has to dig.

  • Quantify miles, on-time rate, and safety

    Numbers carry a driver resume. State your accident-free miles, on-time delivery percentage, years of OTR or regional experience, and HOS compliance. A line like 480,000 accident-free miles with zero preventable incidents tells a carrier more than any adjective.

  • Name the equipment and freight you have run

    List the specific trailers and loads you have handled: dry van, reefer, flatbed, tanker, doubles. Add the systems you logged on, such as Motive or Samsara ELD, so the resume mirrors the exact equipment language in the job posting.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Leaving the CDL class and endorsements out of the header so recruiters and ATS filters cannot confirm you qualify for the load.
  • Writing vague duties like responsible for driving a truck instead of stating miles driven, on-time rate, and accident-free record.
  • Omitting your safety record, clean MVR, and HOS compliance, which are the first things carriers verify before an interview.
  • Listing an expired or unstated DOT medical card, or claiming endorsements you do not actually hold on your license.

Truck Driver resume FAQ

What should a truck driver put at the top of a resume?

Lead with your CDL class and endorsements. List your CDL Class A or B, any endorsements such as Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), or Doubles/Triples (T), and your current DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate status in the header or summary. Carriers match drivers to freight by license type, so these credentials need to be visible in the first few seconds, not buried in a skills list.

What ATS keywords help a truck driver resume get noticed?

Use the exact terms from the job posting. Common ones that appear in most truck driving listings include CDL Class A, DOT compliance, Hours of Service (HOS), ELD, pre-trip inspection, route planning, and the freight types you have hauled such as dry van, reefer, or flatbed. Adding your endorsement letters and a clean MVR reference helps you clear automated screening filters.

How do I show my safety record on a truck driver resume?

Quantify it. State your accident-free or verified safe miles, your on-time delivery percentage, your years without a preventable incident, and your HOS compliance rate. Mentioning a clean MVR and clean roadside inspections gives recruiters the safety evidence they check before scheduling an interview. Note that CSA scores belong to carriers, not individual drivers, so frame your record as the clean inspection and violation history that supports a carrier's CSA targets.

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Last reviewed March 12, 2026.