Career guide
How to write a resume for CDL and truck driving jobs
A driving resume is mostly about qualifications and history: your license class, your endorsements, the kind of freight and equipment you have run, and how long you have driven. Recruiters and safety managers check those before they think about anything else, because they decide whether you can be insured and dispatched.
Keep the wording plain and the details exact. Write your license class and endorsements exactly as they appear on your license, and describe your routes (local, regional, over the road) and your freight in words a recruiter can match to the load they need covered.
What people hiring in cdl and truck driver usually look for
In general terms. Every employer is different, so read each posting closely.
- Your CDL class and endorsements, written exactly as they appear on your license, and the state that issued it.
- How long you have driven commercially, in months or years, and the type of driving: local, regional, dedicated or over the road.
- Equipment you have run (dry van, reefer, flatbed, tanker, box truck and so on) and freight types.
- Your safety and inspection habits, described in your own words; recruiters will check your record separately.
- Logging and in-cab systems you have used, named as [ELD system] until you fill in the real name.
- Customer-facing work, such as deliveries with unloading, liftgate work or handling paperwork at the dock.
How to structure a cdl driver resume
- License and endorsements first. One line for the class and state, one for the endorsements, and any other driving qualification you hold. Nothing here should be a guess.
- Driving experience by employer. For each job: carrier, home terminal city and state, dates, route type, equipment and freight, and a few bullets.
- Equipment and systems. A short list of trailer types, transmissions, and the logging and routing tools you have used.
- Training. New drivers: list the CDL school or program, completion date and behind-the-wheel hours if the school recorded them.
Three layouts cover most situations, each in one column with standard headings:
- Experienced Driver: Drivers with commercial experience applying for regional, OTR or dedicated work. Order: Summary, License and Endorsements, Driving Experience, Equipment and Systems, Training.
- Local and Delivery: Local, multi-stop and delivery drivers whose customer work matters as much as the miles. Order: Summary, License and Endorsements, Equipment and Systems, Driving Experience, Training.
- New CDL Graduate: New drivers whose training is the main qualification, plus earlier non-driving work. Order: Summary, License and Endorsements, Training, Equipment and Systems, Driving Experience.
Example bullet structures
These are structures, not real results. Replace every [placeholder] with your own facts, and leave out any number you can't back up.
- Drove [route type] routes covering [region or number of states], averaging [number] miles per week, with [equipment type].
- Hauled [freight type] for [customer type], including [special handling, e.g. temperature control or load securement].
- Completed pre-trip and post-trip inspections and logged hours in [ELD system].
- Made [number] stops per day for [customer type], handling [unloading, liftgate or paperwork].
- Communicated with dispatch and receivers to [solve a delivery problem or adjust schedules].
Action verbs for this field
Drove, Hauled, Delivered, Transported, Routed
Inspected, Logged, Secured, Documented, Reported
Communicated, Coordinated, Loaded, Unloaded, Verified
Summary structures
- Class [A or B] CDL driver with [number] years of [route type] experience hauling [freight type] in [equipment]. Endorsements: [list exactly as on your license].
- Recent CDL graduate from [school] with Class [A or B] license and [endorsements, if any]. Trained on [equipment]; ready for [local, regional or OTR] work.
More structures by situation (career change, returning after a layoff, new graduate) are on our resume summary examples page.
Common mistakes
- Writing endorsements from memory instead of copying them from your license.
- Leaving out route type, equipment and freight, which are how recruiters match drivers to openings.
- Hiding gaps between driving jobs; list any non-driving work in that time so the timeline is complete.
- Making claims about your record you can't support. Describe your habits; the employer will check the record itself.
- Using a fancy layout. Drivers often apply from a phone, and a plain single column reads best there and in tracking systems.
Do it yourself, or have it done
Templates
CDL and Truck Driver Resume Template Pack
Experienced Driver, Local and Delivery, New CDL Graduate, plus the full bullet guide with every verb and structure. $15.
See the template packOr the CDL and Truck Driver Job Search Bundle with the Job Search Kit, $25.
Done for you
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Do truck drivers need a resume?
Many carriers use their own driver application, but a resume helps you fill it in accurately, apply to dedicated and local jobs that ask for one, and show recruiters your history at a glance.
How do I list endorsements?
Copy them from your license exactly, in one line, with the license class and state. If you have none, you can leave the line out or write "none".
Should I list non-driving jobs?
Yes, if they fill a gap in your timeline or show useful work like warehouse, loading or customer service. Keep them short.
Other resume guides: teacher and education, administrative and office, customer service and retail, and the career services page. Got laid off? See what to do after being laid off.
General information, not career, legal or employment advice. We are not career counselors, and nothing here promises interviews, offers or a particular result.