Choose from a wide range of CV templates and customize the design with a single click.
Use ATS-optimised CV and resume templates that pass applicant tracking systems. Our CV builder helps recruiters read, scan, and shortlist your CV faster.
Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact CV rules employers look for.
Create CV
Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact CV rules employers look for.
Create CVTruck driver hiring pipelines across the United States are increasingly automated. Large logistics companies, freight carriers, distribution networks, and transportation contractors rely heavily on Applicant Tracking Systems to process thousands of commercial driver applications each month. For this reason, an ATS friendly truck driver resume template must be built around how freight companies actually filter and evaluate drivers.
Recruiters hiring CDL drivers are not scanning resumes for storytelling or general career summaries. Instead, both ATS systems and transportation recruiters focus on operational indicators such as driving record quality, vehicle types operated, route experience, safety compliance, and regulatory certifications. If these signals are not clearly structured within the resume template, even experienced drivers can fail early screening stages.
This page explains how modern trucking recruitment systems evaluate driver resumes, how ATS parsing interacts with commercial driving credentials, and how to structure a resume template that ensures visibility during automated freight industry hiring pipelines.
Transportation companies use ATS platforms configured with transportation workforce taxonomies. These systems scan resumes to extract information related to CDL qualifications, driving experience, safety compliance, and logistics operations.
Truck driver resumes are typically scored based on four categories.
The ATS first scans for CDL status because it is the primary eligibility requirement.
Key signals include:
CDL Class A license
CDL Class B license
CDL endorsements such as Tanker, Hazmat, Doubles/Triples
State license status
License validity or renewal details
If CDL information is not clearly placed near the top of the resume, the ATS may fail to categorize the applicant as a qualified commercial driver.
An ATS friendly truck driver resume template must follow a structure that ensures logistics hiring systems can extract licensing, vehicle experience, and safety compliance data.
The most reliable template structure includes:
Professional Summary
CDL License and Endorsements
Core Driving Competencies
Professional Driving Experience
Safety and Compliance Training
Education
This structure allows ATS systems to quickly classify the applicant as a licensed commercial driver.
Truck driver resumes must contain operational transportation keywords that match freight industry workflows.
Generic phrases like “delivery driver” or “transportation support” carry very little ATS weight.
Effective driver resumes include terms connected to real trucking operations.
Examples include:
Tractor trailer operation
CDL Class A driving
Long haul freight transportation
DOT compliance
Electronic logging device (ELD)
Freight load securement
Freight companies filter drivers based on equipment familiarity. The ATS scans for keywords related to vehicles and trailers.
Examples include:
Tractor trailer operation
Flatbed trailers
Refrigerated trailers (reefer)
Tanker trucks
Box trucks
Dump trucks
Drivers who specify equipment types tend to rank higher because logistics companies often hire for very specific freight equipment categories.
The ATS also detects driving environment indicators.
Recruiters often filter candidates based on:
Long haul routes
Regional routes
Local delivery routes
Interstate freight transport
Dedicated fleet operations
Candidates who specify route experience help recruiters quickly determine operational fit.
Safety records are one of the most important evaluation metrics for trucking companies.
ATS systems prioritize drivers referencing:
DOT safety compliance
Pre-trip inspections
Electronic logging device usage
Hours of Service regulations
Safe driving record
Without these signals, resumes may appear incomplete even if the candidate has extensive driving experience.
Some job seekers use resume templates designed for corporate roles that include multiple columns, graphics, or visual skill indicators.
These design elements often break ATS parsing.
Common problems include:
CDL license information being missed
Employment dates being misread
Driving experience merging with unrelated text
Safety certifications not registering
Freight companies often process driver applications in large batches. If the ATS cannot parse a resume correctly, it may never reach a recruiter review stage.
Pre-trip vehicle inspections
Route planning and navigation
Freight delivery documentation
Defensive driving practices
These keywords align with the terminology used in transportation recruitment filters.
Keywords should appear within real driving responsibilities.
Weak Example
Truck driving
Freight transport
Vehicle inspections
Good Example
Operated CDL Class A tractor trailer transporting interstate freight while performing DOT-compliant pre-trip inspections and maintaining electronic logging device records.
The stronger version demonstrates compliance with trucking regulations and operational driving duties.
Once ATS ranking occurs, transportation recruiters review resumes to confirm operational readiness.
Recruiters typically scan resumes for three signals.
Recruiters check how long a candidate has been driving commercial vehicles and whether their employment history shows stable driving roles.
Long gaps or unrelated roles may prompt additional scrutiny.
Many trucking companies operate specialized fleets. Recruiters look for evidence that the driver has experience with the same equipment type used by their company.
For example:
Flatbed carriers prioritize flatbed experience
Food distribution companies prioritize refrigerated trailer experience
Construction transport companies prioritize dump truck experience
Safety performance heavily influences hiring decisions.
Recruiters often look for references to:
Safe driving records
DOT compliance adherence
Accident-free driving history
Inspection readiness
Resumes that emphasize safety awareness often outperform those focused solely on freight delivery.
Truck driver resumes should present experience using operational logistics language.
Instead of listing general responsibilities, candidates should show how they contributed to freight movement, delivery reliability, and safety compliance.
Recruiters expect to see evidence of transporting freight between facilities, warehouses, or distribution centers.
Drivers should clearly reference vehicle inspection responsibilities such as pre-trip and post-trip inspections.
Strong resumes also mention navigation, delivery schedules, and route efficiency.
Transportation hiring systems recognize language used in fleet operations.
Examples include:
maintained DOT compliant driving logs
performed daily vehicle safety inspections
secured freight loads according to transport regulations
completed interstate freight deliveries on scheduled routes
Using operational logistics terminology improves ATS classification accuracy.
Below is a comprehensive example aligned with freight industry screening standards.
MICHAEL ANDERSON
CDL Class A Truck Driver
Dallas, TX
michael.anderson@email.com | (214) 555-6723 | LinkedIn.com/in/michaelanderson
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Experienced CDL Class A Truck Driver with 9 years of long haul and regional freight transportation experience. Proven record of maintaining DOT safety compliance while transporting commercial freight across interstate routes. Skilled in tractor trailer operation, route navigation, freight load securement, and electronic logging device documentation.
CDL LICENSE AND ENDORSEMENTS
CDL Class A License – State of Texas
Hazmat Endorsement
Tanker Endorsement
CORE DRIVING COMPETENCIES
Tractor trailer operation
Interstate freight transportation
Electronic logging device management
DOT compliance procedures
Pre-trip and post-trip inspections
Freight load securement
Route navigation and planning
Defensive driving practices
PROFESSIONAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE
CDL Truck Driver
LoneStar Freight Logistics – Dallas, TX
2019 – Present
Operate CDL Class A tractor trailer transporting commercial freight across interstate routes throughout the southern United States.
Conduct daily pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections to ensure compliance with Department of Transportation safety standards.
Maintain accurate electronic logging device records to track hours of service and route schedules.
Secure freight loads according to transportation safety guidelines to prevent damage during transit.
Coordinate delivery schedules with dispatch teams to ensure on-time freight deliveries.
Regional Truck Driver
Midwest Distribution Transport – Fort Worth, TX
2016 – 2019
Transported refrigerated freight across regional routes serving distribution centers and retail supply chains.
Completed scheduled deliveries while maintaining safe driving practices and DOT compliance.
Documented freight delivery confirmations and maintained accurate trip records.
Assisted with load verification and cargo securement before departure.
SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE TRAINING
Department of Transportation Safety Compliance Training
Defensive Driving Certification
Hazardous Materials Transport Safety Training
EDUCATION
Commercial Driver Training Program
North Texas Trucking School – Dallas, TX
Many experienced drivers submit resumes that fail automated screening due to wording or formatting issues.
Weak Example
Responsible for delivering goods to customers.
Good Example
Operated CDL Class A tractor trailer delivering commercial freight across interstate routes while maintaining DOT compliant driving logs.
The stronger example provides operational detail recognized by ATS systems.
Weak Example
CDL information buried near the bottom of the resume.
Good Example
CDL license clearly stated directly after the professional summary.
Recruiters and ATS systems both prioritize license visibility.
Weak Example
Truck driving experience.
Good Example
Operated refrigerated tractor trailers transporting temperature-controlled food distribution shipments.
Equipment clarity improves candidate matching for specific fleets.
Certain formatting decisions dramatically improve ATS reliability.
Preferred formatting characteristics include:
Single column layout
Standard section headings
Clear CDL license section
Chronological work history
Text based bullet points
Formatting elements that should be avoided include:
Graphic icons
Multi column templates
Text boxes
Visual skill charts
These elements frequently break ATS parsing logic.
Transportation hiring systems are gradually incorporating predictive analytics that evaluate driver safety and operational reliability.
Emerging ATS technologies increasingly analyze resumes for signals such as:
safety awareness language
compliance with trucking regulations
long haul route experience
equipment specialization
Drivers who structure resumes around professional fleet operations rather than general delivery work will remain more competitive as logistics hiring technologies evolve.
Upload CV
Import from Linkedin
