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Truck driver resume example

A one-page resume for a CDL-A driver in the first year or two after training. Carriers and their recruiters screen for safety first, then experience and endorsements, so those three things fill the top of the page.

Truck driver (CDL-A) resume example, page 1 of 1Kwame PettigrewCDL-A Truck DriverSUMMARYCDL-A driver with 14 months of over-the-road experience in dry van andreefer, plus three years of local box truck delivery before that. Clean MVR,no preventable accidents and no out-of-service violations. Hazmat andtanker endorsements. Looking for a regional or dedicated route out of theDallas area.EXPERIENCEOTR Company DriverAug 2025 – PresentLone Star Freight Lines · Dallas, TX•Drove 118,000 miles in my first 12 months across 41 states with nopreventable accidents and no moving violations.•Passed 6 DOT roadside inspections with zero violations, including 2Level 1 inspections.•Delivered 98% of loads on time and kept refrigerated loads in range onevery run, with no claims for temperature or damage.•Averaged 7.4 miles per gallon against a fleet average of 6.9 throughsteady speed and less idling.•Keep hours-of-service logs in the Motive ELD with no form-and-mannererrors on fleet audits.Route Delivery DriverMay 2022 – Jun 2025Trinity Appliance Delivery · Irving, TX•Drove a 26-foot box truck on routes of 12 to 18 home deliveries a day,installing and hauling away appliances.•Kept a 4.9 out of 5 customer rating across 3,500 deliveries and noproperty damage claims in my last two years.EDUCATIONHigh School Diploma2016 – 2020South Oak Cliff High School · Dallas, TXCONTACTkwame.pettigrew@example.com(214) 555-0164Dallas, TXCERTIFICATIONSCommercial Driver’s License,Class A, with H and NendorsementsTexas Department of Public Safety · 2025Entry-Level Driver Training(theory and behind-the-wheel)Northstar CDL Academy (FMCSATraining Provider Registry) · 2025DOT Medical Examiner’sCertificate (current)FMCSA National Registry examiner · 2026SKILLSPre-trip and post-tripinspectionsHours of serviceELD (Motive)Dry vanReeferHazmat placardingLoad securementBacking and dockingTrip planningFuel-efficient drivingCustomer deliveryClean MVR
Truck driver (CDL-A)Use this example

What recruiters look for

  • A clean record: no preventable accidents, no serious violations, a clean MVR and a clean PSP. Say it plainly in the summary.
  • Verifiable experience: months of Class A driving, type of operation (OTR, regional, local, dedicated) and trailer types.
  • Endorsements and equipment: hazmat (H), tanker (N), doubles and triples (T), and experience with reefer, flatbed or tanker.
  • Reliability: on-time delivery, hours-of-service compliance, inspections passed.
  • Professionalism with customers: many dedicated and local jobs involve customer contact and unloading.

Writing the summary

Say how long you have held your CDL-A and driven, what you hauled and where, your endorsements, and your safety record. End with the kind of route you want (OTR, regional, local, dedicated, team).

The summary in this example

CDL-A driver with 14 months of over-the-road experience in dry van and reefer, plus three years of local box truck delivery before that. Clean MVR, no preventable accidents and no out-of-service violations. Hazmat and tanker endorsements. Looking for a regional or dedicated route out of the Dallas area.

New CDL-A graduate with no driving experience yet

Newly licensed CDL-A driver (September 2026) who completed 160 hours of entry-level driver training, including 44 hours behind the wheel. Clean driving record, DOT medical card and a background in warehouse work, so I know how to load and secure freight. Ready for a company driver role with a training program.

Veteran moving into civilian trucking

Army motor transport operator (88M) with four years driving tactical and heavy vehicles in convoy and on public roads, now holding a civilian CDL-A. Accident-free in over 40,000 military miles, with hazmat experience and the discipline to run on schedule.

Bullet points that work

Strong lines for this role, beyond the ones in the example. Borrow the shape and put in your own numbers.

  • Completed 210 loads in a year with 100% on-time pickup and no rejected loads.
  • Hauled flatbed loads of steel and lumber with proper chains, straps and tarps, passing 4 securement checks with no violations.
  • Ran a dedicated grocery route of 6 store deliveries a night, unloading with a pallet jack and keeping a 99% on-time record.
  • Drove 2 winters of mountain routes over I-70 and I-80, chaining up when required, with no incidents.
  • Kept a tanker trailer with surge-sensitive liquid loads within schedule on 80 deliveries without a spill or claim.
  • Earned the fleet’s quarterly safe driver bonus 4 quarters in a row.
  • Reported a brake defect on pre-trip that maintenance confirmed would have put the truck out of service.
  • Cut empty miles by working with dispatch on backhauls, adding about $2,000 a month in revenue for my truck.
  • Trained 3 new drivers as a mentor during their first 2 weeks of supervised driving.

Skills to list

Hard skills

  • Class A tractor-trailer operation
  • Pre-trip, en-route and post-trip inspections
  • Hours-of-service rules and ELDs (Motive, Samsara, Omnitracs)
  • Trailer types (dry van, reefer, flatbed, tanker)
  • Load securement
  • Backing, docking and tight-space maneuvering
  • Hazmat placards and shipping papers
  • Trip planning and fuel stops

Soft skills

  • Patience and calm in traffic
  • Time management
  • Clear communication with dispatch
  • Professional manner at customer sites

Certifications and licenses worth listing

  • Commercial Driver’s License, Class A: issued by your state; list the class, the endorsements (H, N, T, X) and any restrictions removed, such as the automatic-transmission restriction.
  • Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT): required by FMCSA since February 2022 for new Class A drivers, from a provider on the Training Provider Registry. Name the school.
  • DOT medical card: say it is current. A lapsed card stops a job offer.
  • TWIC card: worth getting if you want port and intermodal work; list it if you have it.

Length and format

One page. Carriers read applications fast, so keep the summary, your CDL details and the current driving job in the top half. A two-column layout fits the endorsements and skills neatly beside your experience.

Common mistakes

  • Not stating your record. Recruiters assume the worst if “clean MVR” and “no preventable accidents” are missing.
  • Leaving out months of experience. Many carriers require 6 or 12 months of verifiable driving; make it easy to count.
  • Listing endorsements you do not have yet as if you do. Write “hazmat endorsement in progress” if your TSA check is pending.
  • Gaps with no explanation. A short note (“school”, “family care”) prevents a rejection at the background check.

Questions and answers

Do truck drivers need a resume?

Many carriers use a DOT application instead, but a one-page resume helps with dedicated, local and private fleet jobs, and it makes the application faster because your dates and details are ready.

How do I get hired with no CDL experience?

Apply to carriers with training programs for new drivers. Lead with your ELDT school, hours behind the wheel, clean record and any work that shows reliability. Use the new graduate alternative summary above.

Which endorsements are worth getting?

Hazmat (H) and tanker (N), or both together (X), open better-paying freight. Doubles and triples (T) help for LTL jobs. Hazmat needs a TSA background check, so start early.

Should I list my previous non-CDL driving jobs?

Yes. Box truck, delivery and bus driving show you can handle a vehicle and customers. Give the miles or stops and your safety record.

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