A truck driver resume that leads with your CDL and safety record
Carriers hire drivers they can insure and trust, so your resume has to answer a few questions fast: what license and endorsements you hold, what equipment you have driven, and how safe you are. This builder puts those facts at the top.
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Class A CDL driver with 6 years of regional and over-the-road experience in dry van and refrigerated trailers. About 110,000 miles per year with no preventable accidents in 4 years. On-time, careful with cargo, and experienced with electronic logging.
- Drive about 110,000 miles per year on Northeast regional routes with a dry van and refrigerated trailers
- No preventable accidents and no moving violations in 4 years
- Deliver on time in 98% of loads and keep temperature logs for cold-chain freight
- Complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections and report defects before they become breakdowns
- Delivered up to 25 stops per day to bars, restaurants, and stores
- Loaded and secured pallets and handled paperwork and payments at each stop
Dry van and reefer, Electronic logging device (ELD), Hours-of-service compliance, Pre-trip inspection, Load securement, Trip planning, Customer service at delivery, Defensive driving
- CDL Class A with Tanker (N) and Doubles/Triples (T) endorsements
- DOT medical card, current
- Clean motor vehicle record
Build your truck driver resume and cover letter
Edit the sample with your own details. The preview updates as you type, and your work is saved in this browser.
What to put on a truck driver resume
Put your CDL class and endorsements first. Recruiters search by class and endorsement. State them at the top: class, tanker, hazmat, doubles/triples, and anything else you hold.
List equipment and route types. Dry van, reefer, flatbed, tanker, local, regional, and over-the-road are different jobs. Name what you have driven and where.
State your safety record in numbers. Years without a preventable accident and miles per year are what carriers care about most. Use exact numbers if you can.
Be honest about violations. Carriers check your driving record and your record in the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program. An honest line explaining an old violation protects your credibility.
New CDL holders: highlight training and road time. List your school, training hours, and any supervised road experience. Mention reliability, a clean record, and flexibility to start on any shift.
Mistakes to avoid
- Hiding your endorsements in the middle of a paragraph
- Leaving off miles and equipment type
- Claiming a clean record when a carrier will pull the actual report
Words employers look for
CDL Class A, endorsements, hours of service, ELD, pre-trip inspection, safe driving record, on-time delivery, dry van, reefer, load securement. Use the ones that are true for you, in the same words the job posting uses.
Sample cover letter
This is the letter that comes with the sample. Open the builder and switch to the Cover letter tab to write yours.
Read the sample letter for Regional CDL-A Driver
Dear Driver Recruiter,
I am applying for the regional CDL-A driver position at Atlantic Haulers. I have six years of driving experience, a Class A license with tanker and doubles/triples endorsements, and a record of no preventable accidents over the last four years.
At Redline Freight, I drive about 110,000 miles a year on Northeast routes and deliver on time in 98% of loads. I handle pre-trip inspections, electronic logs, and temperature records for cold-chain freight.
I am looking for a carrier that values safety and steady home time. I would be glad to talk about how I can contribute to your fleet.
Sincerely,
Luis Ortega
Questions
Should I list my miles per year?
Yes. Miles show how much driving experience you have. Round to the nearest few thousand and make sure it matches your logs.
Can I apply while I am still getting my CDL?
Yes, many carriers hire new drivers and have training programs. State your training school, your permit status, and when you expect to test.
How do I describe time between jobs?
Be honest and brief. If you were off the road for family, health, or a job change, one line is usually enough.
Do I need a cover letter?
Most carriers use online applications that focus on your license and record. A short cover letter helps when you want to stand out, but a clear resume matters more.