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Truck driver skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Martin Garsee
Truck driver example skills

One of the most important hard skills a truck driver can possess is a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) because this is a requirement for most trucking jobs. It's also important for truck drivers to have the hard skill of experience with OTR trucking. They may also need the hard skill of knowing how to drive in severe weather conditions.


When it comes to soft skills, truck drivers should have strong customer service skills above all else. Truck drivers have a potentially very dangerous job and trucks are considered heavy machinery, so strong coordination and discernment skills are also crucial.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical truck driver skills. We ranked the top skills for truck drivers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 47.4% of truck driver resumes contained cdl as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a truck driver needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 truck driver skills for your resume and career

1. CDL

Here's how truck drivers use cdl:
  • Operate combination tractor-trailer requiring CDL under DOT regulations and company policy's.
  • Drive CDL refrigerator straight-truck delivering produce to Giant supermarkets and other accounts

2. OTR

Here's how truck drivers use otr:
  • Studied hierarchical management in family business and truck OTR business.
  • Graduated with my CDL from Truck Driver Institute in Sanford, FL with continuing training and OTR training with Con-Way Truckload.

3. DOT

Here's how truck drivers use dot:
  • Observed DOT qualifications in accordance with Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations.
  • Performed daily inspections and completed paperwork in accordance with DOT regulations.

4. PET

Here's how truck drivers use pet:
  • Job duties: Drove over the road to deliver puppies to pet stores.
  • Delivered pet supplies to various customers in the Southeastern Region.

5. 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 truck drivers use hazmat:
  • Maintained HAZMAT designation which required successful completion of background investigation conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigations.
  • Performed Hazardous Material removal and disposal in accordance with HAZMAT regulations.

6. 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 truck drivers use customer service:
  • Process all general customer service requests, interact efficiently with business customers providing information and resolving critical problems.
  • Ensured that each customer received outstanding customer service, which included friendly greeting & acknowledging every customer.

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7. Pickup

In musical terms, a pickup is a transducing device used for capturing and converting mechanical music waves into an electronic signal. A pickup senses the mechanical vibration produced by a mechanical or electrical guitar and amplifies those vibrations using an amplifier. These amplified musical sounds are then produced through speakers. A pickup can also be used to produce mashup music.

Here's how truck drivers use pickup:
  • Completed delivery and pickup paperwork promptly and accurately, returning said paperwork to the appropriate facility personnel.
  • Checked all load documentation for accuracy, inspected load and received required signatures for pickup and delivery.

8. Post-Trip Inspections

Here's how truck drivers use post-trip inspections:
  • Performed Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Inspections on both trailer and tractor per FDOT standards.
  • Performed DOT certified Pre-Trip Inspections, Load checks, and Post-Trip Inspections.

9. English Language

Here's how truck drivers use english language:
  • Read, write and communicate using English language sufficient to perform job functions.

10. Safety Regulations

Here's how truck drivers use safety regulations:
  • Transport and unload fuels at gas stations and non-commercial locations following all state and federal guidelines regarding environmental and safety regulations.
  • Performed all duties and responsibilities according to regulations set forth under the Safety regulations for Federal Motor Vehicle Carriers.

11. 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 truck 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

12. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how truck drivers use gps:
  • Followed GPS directives and maintained in constant communication with dispatch when necessary.
  • Map appropriate routes (shortest and safest) on either conventional maps or GPS and follow mapped route to reach destination.

13. Mechanical Problems

Mechanical problems are used to describe issues that occurred to something involving a machine or tools. For instance, a mechanical problem at the workplace might mean the copier has broken down again. Other examples of mechanical problems in a car include faulty brakes, tire blowouts, etc.

Here's how truck drivers use mechanical problems:
  • Communicated effectively with dispatcher regarding delivery schedules and what to do in the event of mechanical problems.
  • General knowledge and understanding of mechanical repairs with the ability to troubleshoot and solve basic mechanical problems.

14. Traffic Violations

Here's how truck drivers use traffic violations:
  • Reported vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles, using telephones or mobile two-way radios.
  • Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles Driving for Oil Company Oil product

15. 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 truck drivers use federal regulations:
  • Managed hours of service on Department of Transportation approved electronic equipment according to the state and federal regulations.
  • Transport material to and from specified destinations Maintain truck log according to state and federal regulations
top-skills

What skills help Truck Drivers find jobs?

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What type of skills will young 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 truck driver

List of truck driver skills to add to your resume

Truck driver skills

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

  • CDL
  • OTR
  • DOT
  • PET
  • Hazmat
  • Customer Service
  • Pickup
  • Post-Trip Inspections
  • English Language
  • Safety Regulations
  • Hazardous Materials
  • GPS
  • Mechanical Problems
  • Traffic Violations
  • Federal Regulations
  • Dump Truck
  • Pallet Jack
  • Traffic Laws
  • Straight Truck
  • Log Book
  • Customer Locations
  • Safety Procedures
  • Construction Sites
  • Drive Trucks
  • Pre-Trip Inspections
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • Vehicle Inspections
  • Routine Maintenance
  • State Regulations
  • Emergency Equipment
  • Vehicle Logs
  • Tractor-Trailer Combination
  • Vehicle Service
  • Transport Materials
  • Truck Log
  • Delivery Schedules
  • Customer Orders
  • Driver Logs
  • Harvey
  • CB
  • Shovels
  • Qualcomm
  • Unload Trucks
  • Water Truck
  • Refrigerated Trailers
  • GVW
  • Waste Recycling
  • Two Way Radios
  • Dollies

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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