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Local driver skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Martin Garsee

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical local driver skills. We ranked the top skills for local drivers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 22.2% of local driver resumes contained cdl as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a local driver needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 local driver skills for your resume and career

1. CDL

Here's how local drivers use cdl:

Maintain current Class A CDL with Hazardous Materials and Double and Triple endorsements.
Have a class A CDL skilled in operating various types of equipment.

2. DOT

Here's how local drivers use dot:

Documented transportation logs and utilized DOT safety guidelines.
Maintain documentation of cargo according to DOT regulations

3. Post-Trip Inspections

Here's how local drivers use post-trip inspections:

Performed daily tractor/tanker pre-trip and post-trip inspections and had defects repaired or reported according to Company policies.
Conduct and perform routine pre-trip and post-trip inspections to ensure product accountability.

4. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how local drivers use customer service:

Transported Vehicles nationwide with emphasis on customer service.
Maintained exceptional customer service with supplier liaison.

5. Pallet Jack

Here's how local drivers use pallet jack:

Help with the loading and unloading of material at the warehouse using a forklift, hand truck or a pallet jack.
Delivered Product to customers and unloaded using the manual pallet jack and lift gate if docks were not available.

6. 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 local drivers use hazmat:

Maintained paperwork and performed per and post trip, a member of the Hurricane Relief Crew and the Hazmat Response Team.
Delivered hazmat material to local storage facilities within the Houston, Texas area.

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7. OTR

Here's how local drivers use otr:

Dedicated run to phoenix Arizona (OTR), drop and hook.
Cover OTR runs when needed.

8. 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 local drivers use hazardous materials:

Loaded/unloaded products shipped by ADM that included used and manufactured hazardous and non-hazardous materials.
Transport freight of all kinds to include refrigerated and hazardous materials safely in 48 states and Canada.

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 local drivers use federal regulations:

Obey all state and federal regulations at all times.
Obey all state and federal regulations and laws.

10. FMCSA

Here's how local drivers use fmcsa:

Run classes in logbooks and fmcsa regulations.
Maintained safe operating procedures under FMCSA guidelines.

11. LTL

Less than truckload freight shipping also called LTL shipping is used for the transportation of goods or products that does not require a full truckload due to the smaller nature of the parcel. LTL shipments are usually arranged on pallets for smaller shipments and can range anywhere from 100 to 5,000 pounds.

Here's how local drivers use ltl:

Transport and Storage - MaterialsCompany closed the current terminal I was at.Drive locally delivering and picking-up freight for an LTL company.
Line Haul Driver Duties include line haul and pickup and delivering LTL freight.

12. Electronic Logs

Here's how local drivers use electronic logs:

Manage electronic logs, pick up freight from Port, drop freight at drop location.
Expense Reports, Trip Reports, Electronic Logs and Vehicle Inspections.

13. Federal Motor

Here's how local drivers use federal motor:

Transport products, maintain Federal Motor Carrier Regulations, mapping and trip preparation on delivery routes to the shipper and consignee.
Adhered to numerous regulatory requirements including OSHA and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act while transporting general merchandise.

14. Hand Trucks

Hand trucks are also known as a dolly or a two wheeler is an L-shaped, box moving, handcart. The hand truck has two big wheels on one side of the base and has a small ledge that holds the object to be moved. The hand truck is operated manually and has a handle that a person can use to load the boxes into the base and then unload it. It balances the weight of the objects and makes carrying heavy boxes easier.

Here's how local drivers use hand trucks:

Use hand trucks to deliver up stairs, elevators in side of businesses and counting freight.
Load and unload trailers with forklifts and hand trucks.

15. Landing Gear

Here's how local drivers use landing gear:

Raised and lowers landing gear on semi-trailers and/or the front support on converter dollies when the dollies are so equipped.
Hook and unhook trailers from the tractor, cranking lever to raise and lower landing gear on semi trailers.

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What skills help Local 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 local drivers need?

Martin Garsee

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?

List of local driver skills to add to your resume

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

CDL
DOT
Post-Trip Inspections
Customer Service
Pallet Jack
Hazmat
OTR
Hazardous Materials
Federal Regulations
FMCSA
LTL
Electronic Logs
Federal Motor
Hand Trucks
Landing Gear
Customer Locations
Distribution Centers

Tractor-Trailer Combination
Mile Radius
GPS
Straight Truck
Mechanical Problems
Traffic Violations
Emergency Equipment
Pallets
Local Deliveries
Propane
Vehicle Service
Log Book
Delivery Schedules
Customer Orders
Trip Planning
Unload Trailers
Pre-Trip Inspections

Traffic Laws
Dollies
BOL
Unload Trucks
Local Freight
Rail Yard
Safety Policies
Foot Trailer
Driver Safety
Electrical Lines
Dry Vans
Construction Sites
Groceries
Paper Logs
Hook Trailers

Updated January 8, 2025

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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