Resume Example & Writing Guide

CDL Driver Resume Example
What Carrier Recruiters Actually Want to See.

A real Class A CDL driver resume with annotations explaining every section. Built to pass carrier ATS systems and impress fleet recruiters.

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Why This Matters

What Carrier Recruiters Actually Look For

Fleet recruiters spend less than 10 seconds on a driver application. They are scanning for one thing: can I trust this person with my equipment and my customers? Your CDL class, endorsements, safety record, and equipment experience need to be immediately visible — not buried in paragraphs. Here is what a strong CDL driver resume looks like.

Before vs After

The difference between a resume that gets a call and one that gets deleted.

❌ What Most CDL Resumes Look Like
"Experienced truck driver with clean driving record. Drove various routes. Good with customers. Available for long haul or local. References available upon request."
✓ What Gets the Recruiter's Attention
"Class A CDL — HazMat, Tanker, TWIC endorsed. 780,000 accident-free miles. OTR experience: 48-state coverage. Operated 53-ft dry van, flatbed, and refrigerated trailers. 4 years with current carrier — zero violations, zero at-fault incidents."

Full CDL Driver Resume Example

Annotated to show exactly why each section is written this way.

Resume Example — Class A CDL Driver
Jerome A. Washington
Class A CDL Driver | HazMat · Tanker · TWIC | 780,000+ Accident-Free Miles
Atlanta, GA  ·  (404) 555-0217  ·  jerome.washington@email.com
Driver Profile

Class A CDL driver with 11 years of OTR and regional experience. 780,000+ accident-free miles. HazMat, Tanker, and TWIC endorsed. Experienced with 53-ft dry van, flatbed, step deck, and refrigerated trailers. Clean MVR — zero violations in 6 years. Available for dedicated, OTR, or regional routes.

Driving Experience
OTR Driver — Class A
Southeastern Freight Lines — Atlanta, GA
January 2020 – Present
  • Operate 53-ft dry van on 48-state OTR routes — average 11,000 miles per month
  • Zero at-fault accidents and zero DOT violations over 4 years and 520,000+ miles
  • Consistent on-time delivery rate of 98.4% across 3-year performance period
  • Trained 3 new drivers on HOS compliance, pre-trip inspection, and route planning
Regional Flatbed Driver — Class A
Carolina Logistics — Charlotte, NC
May 2013 – January 2020
  • Operated flatbed and step deck trailers hauling construction materials, machinery, and oversized loads in Southeast region
  • Completed 260,000 accident-free miles — zero violations over 7-year tenure
  • Earned "Driver of the Quarter" recognition 3 consecutive quarters (2018)
Licenses & Endorsements
  • Class A CDL — Georgia, License #GA-441829
  • HazMat Endorsement (H)
  • Tanker Endorsement (N)
  • TWIC Card — Active
  • DOT Medical Certificate — Current
Equipment & Skills
53-ft Dry Van Flatbed Step Deck Refrigerated Trailer HOS Compliance ELD / PeopleNet Pre-Trip Inspection Load Securement 48-State Routes DOT Regulations
Why the Title Line Works

The title shows CDL class, all three endorsements, and total safe miles in one line. A recruiter scanning 50 applications stops here. Everything critical is visible in 3 seconds without reading a single paragraph.

Why Miles and Violations Are Front and Center

Carriers care about two things above all else: safety record and reliability. "780,000 accident-free miles" and "zero violations in 6 years" answer both immediately. Never bury this information — lead with it every time.

Why Equipment Specifics Matter

ATS systems used by major carriers scan for trailer types, ELD platforms, and endorsement keywords. "Flatbed," "step deck," "PeopleNet," and "load securement" are all filterable terms. Without them, the application may not surface in recruiter searches.

Key Rules for Any CDL Driver Resume

1. Lead with your safety record
Total accident-free miles, years without violations, clean MVR. Put this in your title and summary. It is the first thing carriers screen for.
2. List every endorsement
HazMat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples, TWIC, Passenger. Each endorsement opens different routes and rate categories. List all of them every time.
3. Name your trailer types
Dry van, flatbed, reefer, tanker, step deck, lowboy, double drop. Recruiters filter by equipment type. If it's not on the resume, you don't exist for that search.
4. Show on-time delivery rate
If your carrier tracked it and your number is good, include it. 97%+ on-time delivery is a strong differentiator that most drivers never think to include.
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