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Heavy truck driver skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Martin Garsee
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical heavy truck driver skills. We ranked the top skills for heavy truck drivers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 31.6% of heavy truck driver resumes contained cdl as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a heavy truck driver needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 heavy truck driver skills for your resume and career

1. CDL

Here's how heavy truck drivers use cdl:
  • Obtained CDL's and Hazardous Material Certificate/Endorsement.
  • Followed State and Federal DOT hours of service regulations, and maintained a CDL license at all times with no points.

2. Safety Rules

Principles or regulations that ensure the protection of people, objects, or the environment are called safety rules. These rules can be governing actions, devices, or procedures that help in minimizing the risks of loss, injury, or damage.

Here's how heavy truck drivers use safety rules:
  • Checked the vehicle regularly for any potential breakdowns, changed oil and preserved safety rules.
  • Observe safety rules and regulations at customer job sites, and facilities.

3. Hazmat

Hazmat is a combination of the words ‘hazardous' and ‘material'. The meaning of this word is found in the integration of the aforementioned words -- which is dangerous or toxic material.

Here's how heavy truck drivers use hazmat:
  • Operated heavy vehicles with a capacity of 30 tons including Line Haul, Tanker, HAZMAT.
  • Complied with company policies & procedures, DOT, HAZMAT and Military requirements/regulations.

4. Dump Truck

A Dump Truck is the name of a large vehicle intended for the transportation of large quantities of certain materials, often those used in construction projects, such as gravel and sand, and it might be used to clean up during or after said projects, such as construction waste and debris. Such vehicles require specific licensing and training on the part of the driver.

Here's how heavy truck drivers use dump truck:
  • Operated the Dump Truck to complete assigned workloads throughout the city, used air brakes
  • Operated concrete mixer truck, dump truck, tanker truck, and flatbed trucks.

5. Transport Materials

Here's how heavy truck drivers use transport materials:
  • Operate articulated trucks to transport materials.
  • Operate any electric, gasoline, or diesel forklifts to load/unload, transfer and transport materials to various warehouse locations.

6. Hazardous Materials

Any substance or good that is harmful to human health as well as the environment are called hazardous materials. Such materials must be handled carefully to avoid any mishaps. Harmful gases. chemicals, strong medicines or drugs, radioactive elements required for radiation purposes, a human blood sample that carries germs, all of these are considered hazardous materials.

Here's how heavy truck drivers use hazardous materials:
  • Participated in the loading, securing, managing, and unloading of hazardous materials.
  • Handled time sensitive hazardous materials and government shipments in various areas of Iraq.

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7. Construction Equipment

Here's how heavy truck drivers use construction equipment:
  • Test construction equipment for reliability and safety.
  • Demonstrated all construction equipment for customers.

8. OTR

Here's how heavy truck drivers use otr:
  • Drive OTR to designated locations delivered materials to costumers in timely manner
  • Completed Driver Certification Safety Training - OTR

9. Federal Regulations

Federal regulations refer to the set of rules, both general and permanent that are published in the Federal Register by the agencies of the federal government and the executive departments. Federal regulations are the large body of rules that govern federal practice. Examples of these laws include taxes and financial regulation, discrimination law, wages law, and so on.

Here's how heavy truck drivers use federal regulations:
  • Maintained truck log as per the state and federal regulations
  • Placard truck according to state and federal regulations.

10. Tractor-Trailer Combination

Here's how heavy truck drivers use tractor-trailer combination:
  • Operated trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport.
  • Drive a tractor-trailer combination over the road all 48 states.

11. Drive Trucks

Here's how heavy truck drivers use drive trucks:
  • Drive trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.
  • Drive truck to destination, applying knowledge of commercial driving regulations and area roads.

12. Preventive Maintenance

Here's how heavy truck drivers use preventive maintenance:
  • Supervised, directed and performed preventive maintenance checks and services on assigned vehicles.
  • Conducted routine preventive maintenance on Tractor and Lowboy trailer.

13. Shovels

Here's how heavy truck drivers use shovels:
  • Assist with unloading truck with shovels and wheelbarrow.
  • Move shovels and drills to maximize production and ore delivery.

14. Safety Regulations

Here's how heavy truck drivers use safety regulations:
  • Adhered to company and Florida Department of Transportation safety regulations.
  • Complied with company standards and safety regulations.

15. Truck Equipment

Here's how heavy truck drivers use truck equipment:
  • Conducted inspection of truck equipment and supplies.
  • Inspected truck equipment and supplies, i.e.
top-skills

What skills help Heavy Truck Drivers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young heavy truck drivers need?

Martin GarseeMartin Garsee LinkedIn profile

Executive Director, NAPFTDS

To enter the trucking world, a person should have a clean driving record and a clean criminal (not sure if there is a better word) history.
To enter the industry, have obtained a CDL, that in itself requires a "new" set of skills than driving an automobile.
Ability to communicate, you will have to communicate with dispatchers, customers, and other drivers.
Ability to work with minimum supervision.
The trucking industry operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and realizes that there is not typically a "set" schedule to work.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about heavy truck driver

List of heavy truck driver skills to add to your resume

Heavy truck driver skills

The most important skills for a heavy truck driver resume and required skills for a heavy truck driver to have include:

  • CDL
  • Safety Rules
  • Hazmat
  • Dump Truck
  • Transport Materials
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Construction Equipment
  • OTR
  • Federal Regulations
  • Tractor-Trailer Combination
  • Drive Trucks
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Shovels
  • Safety Regulations
  • Truck Equipment
  • DOD
  • Truck Log
  • MHE
  • Safety Equipment
  • Unload Trucks
  • Log Book
  • Hoists
  • Traffic Violations
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • PMCS
  • GVW
  • Fuel Trucks
  • Water Truck
  • Pre-Trip Inspections
  • Safety Procedures
  • End Loaders
  • Bulldozers
  • Brazing
  • Emergency Equipment
  • Vehicle Service
  • Troubleshoot
  • Volvo
  • Construction Sites
  • Ammunition
  • Dangerous Goods
  • Mowers
  • Electrical Lines
  • Emergency Roadside Repairs
  • Tie Downs
  • Military Equipment
  • Vehicle Deficiencies
  • Delivery Charges
  • HET

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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