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Trailer 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 trailer driver skills. We ranked the top skills for trailer drivers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 27.2% of trailer driver resumes contained cdl as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a trailer driver needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 trailer driver skills for your resume and career

1. CDL

Here's how trailer drivers use cdl:

Maintained safe driving record plus a current Class A CDL with Hazardous Materials and Doubles and Triples endorsement.
Transported time-sensitive hazardous materials and general commodities across 48 states with a Class A CDL and Hazmat License.

2. DOT

Here's how trailer drivers use dot:

Maintain DOT compliance and safety operations on eight trucks.
Create and submit delivery and DOT logs.

3. OTR

Here's how trailer drivers use otr:

Brief: Contract OTR driver for companies such as Ryder Integrated Logistics, Sunbelt Forestry, and Werner Enterprises.
Studied hierarchical management in family business and truck OTR business.

4. Delivery Schedules

Delivery schedules are general agreements between a buyer and provider that schedule when and how often a delivery will be made. Depending on the products and how much is being sold, a buyer may have more control over the delivery schedule. While the frequency of deliveries may change, the merchandise volume is typically consistent.

Here's how trailer drivers use delivery schedules:

Plan route according to delivery schedule Communicate safe storage and handling procedures to customers Safely operating and maintaining the delivery vehicle
Shipped and received heavy Items-Inspecting vehicles for mechanical items and safety issues and perform preventative Maintenance-Planning routes and meeting delivery schedule

5. Post-Trip Inspections

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

Perform Pre-trip and post-trip inspections on the yard jockey daily.
Do pre-trip and post-trip inspections on tractor and trailer.

6. Safety Regulations

Here's how trailer drivers use safety regulations:

Transport freight in accordance with federal motor carrier safety regulations, accountability of products incoming/outgoing accompany with bills for customer/third party
Transport and unload fuels at gas stations and non-commercial locations following all state and federal guidelines regarding environmental and safety regulations.

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7. 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 trailer drivers use federal regulations:

Maintained records required for compliance with state and federal regulations.Checked load accuracy and stability before each trip.
Managed hours of service on Department of Transportation approved electronic equipment according to the state and federal regulations.

8. 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 trailer drivers use ltl:

Pick up loads from customers and delivery to customers, dry food, LTL on a Dry Van 53
Deliver LTL products to as many as 12 to 15 stops.

9. Unload Trucks

Unload trucks is an activity that is undertaken to remove items that have been carried on a truck. It could be raw materials, work-in-stock or finished products. Unloading a truck may require people and some equipment that may help unload items that are too heavy or dangerous for humans to handle.

Here's how trailer drivers use unload trucks:

Drive with a capacity of at least 26,000 pound, maybe required to unload trucks
Unload trucks and replenish stock/hi-lo certified* Customer service and general maintenance duties

10. Inspection Reports

An inspection report is a written document provided after a thorough evaluation of a specific procedure/ process.

Here's how trailer drivers use inspection reports:

Execute a 4 point brake inspection, Tug test, and then log in all inspection reports into the QUALCOMM system.

11. Tractor-Trailer Combination

Here's how trailer drivers use tractor-trailer combination:

drive tractor-trailer combination 600 plus miles per day on dedicated run for Owens Corning plant in pneumatic trailers.
Maintain and operate tractor-trailer combination hauling general commodities- Troubleshoot mechanical issues- Communicate with dispatch to ensure load pick-ups and deliveries

12. Safety Inspections

Safety inspections are a vital procedure for all kinds of businesses. This may be a restaurant to ensure is properly cleaned and stored or a factory to confirm employees are not risking their safety during the manufacturing process. The goal of these inspections is to highlight any potential risks or hazards present that may lead to injuries, damages, or lawsuits.

Here's how trailer drivers use safety inspections:

Performed safety inspections of commercial vehicles under hazmat loads.
Complete pre and past trip safety inspections, record and reporting any defects and malfunctions.

13. Log Book

Here's how trailer drivers use log book:

Complied with all company procedures, including updating of electroniclog book, daily trip sheets and work orders.
Transport non-hazardous materials over 48 states Keep a log books or maintain Qual- comm.

14. 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 trailer drivers use hazardous materials:

Job Description: Responsible for transporting hazardous materials to assigned locations, inventory, followed safety guidelines and procedures of company.
Route Planning Hours of Service Regulations Answering Phones/ Customer Service Pick-up and Delivery Driver Hazardous Materials Line Haul Driver

15. Construction Sites

A piece of land where constructional activities are to be conducted is termed as a construction site.

Here's how trailer drivers use construction sites:

Operate company commercial vehicles and delivering building materials to commercial and residential construction sites in a safe and timely manner.
Delivered different commodities to construction sites throughout Northern California *Received a Production Award for exceeding goals in transportation of petroleum waste

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What skills help Trailer 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 trailer 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 trailer driver skills to add to your resume

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

CDL
DOT
OTR
Delivery Schedules
Post-Trip Inspections
Safety Regulations
Federal Regulations
LTL
Unload Trucks

Inspection Reports
Tractor-Trailer Combination
Safety Inspections
Log Book
Hazardous Materials
Construction Sites
GVW
East Coast
Pre-Trip Inspections

Routine Maintenance
Mile Radius
Foot Trailer
State Regulations
Vehicle Service
Emergency Equipment
Safety Procedures
Vehicle Logs
Driver Logs

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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