Driver Resume Examples

Creating a well-written, professional resume is the key to enhancing your chances at any job in the driving industry. It is a good idea to start off by reviewing a variety of driver resume samples to gain ideas about appearance, structure, and wording. In this guide, you will learn how to write a driver resume, including what sections to add, which format is best for you, qualifications that are industry-specific, and how to avoid common errors when drafting this important document.

Whether you have a passion for operating heavy machinery or have a knack for customer service when delivering goods, you can write an impressive resume to help your chances of landing a job. Since there are a variety of sectors in the driving industry, you want your resume to be focused on the particular position you’re aiming for. Even if you have a range of specialties, narrow in on the key skills that qualify for the job at hand. Take a look at several driver resume samples that match your role to gain some ideas.

No two resumes are going to look exactly the same, which is where a little creativity comes into play. You can craft your resume in a way that best highlights your qualifications. No matter the field of interest, there are a few major sections that should be included in your driver resume.

• Summary Statement
• Skills Section
• Work Experience
• Education

You can choose to write either a chronological or functional resume depending on your experience level. The standard chronological format is best if you have an established career in driving. This type of resume efficiently summarizes your progression from delivery person to lead coordinator. Many driver resume samples are written chronologically, so you can see how to list your achievements in this manner.

On the other hand, if your experience is more diverse and ranges across several industries, the functional resume may work to your benefit. This format allows you to focus on your overall skills and qualifications that relate to the position you want. You can include more details on your mechanical training and navigation expertise rather than your clerical or customer service experience. However, do not neglect your soft skills that may relate to the position.

The summary statement headlines your resume by giving the hiring manager a quick glimpse of your overall skills and qualifications. The preferred method is to write in sentence fragments while leaving out any pronouns. This summary should take up no more than four to six lines, and it should include your level of experience, most important skills, and relevant personality traits.

By looking at driver resume samples, you can see that the summary statement has completely replaced the traditional objective statement. The professional summary is preferred because it gives you a chance to highlight your best features right from the start without wasting valuable space stating that you would like to be hired by that company.

When deciding which skills to include in the summary, remember to consider both industry-related experience and soft skills that you have picked up in other occupations. For example, a clean driving record is pertinent to this industry, but a delivery worker can also bring value to the company with great customer service skills. Time management is highly applicable to bus and public transportation drivers.

Check out a few driver resume samples in your particular field of interest to gain ideas for talents to highlight. Here are a couple of good examples that you can follow when writing your summary statement.

• Reliable truck driver with a superb record of safe driving and customer satisfaction. Far-reaching knowledge of truck models, including inspection techniques and safety protocols. Maintain a flexible schedule that accommodates overnight deliveries and unexpected assignments.
• Experienced furniture delivery driver with commendable navigation skills. Possess high physical endurance for lifting and maneuvering large, heavy furniture items. Friendly personality and a prime company representative with a shimmering record of customer satisfaction.

Depending on the type of driver you want to be, the education section may be more or less important. Many driving careers do not require anything more advanced than a high school diploma or GED. In these cases, drivers opt to include a “Core Qualifications” section instead of a full-blown education listing. These qualifications will be later explained under the driver skills section. If you have limited education, you may want to add the name of your school and the fact that you earned the diploma at the very end of your resume. Looking at some driver resume samples will show you how it is most commonly done.

Some other areas of education that will boost certain driving careers are technical and trade schools. Truckers sometimes have training in automotive or mechanical engineering, which are both applicable to positions where you are operating large vehicles. Indicate whether you have graduated or are still enrolled in classes. You can also include any relevant coursework you have completed, even if you did not receive any degree.

The education section is also where you would put any special licenses or certificates you have earned. To drive a commercial truck or any type of bus, you need a CDL, or commercial driver’s license. Remember to include any certifications you have received regarding safety procedures, traffic laws, or driving regulations.

The work experience section should be in reverse chronological format, starting with your most recent position. As you can see from other driver resume samples, it is only logical to use present tense for current positions and past tense for previous experience. Always include your specific role or title, the name of the company, the location, and dates of employment.

Underneath each position should be a bulleted list of duties and accomplishments. If you held multiple jobs within the same company, highlight your promotions and accumulation of advanced responsibilities. Use quantifiable data when it is appropriate. For example, mention that you increased the efficiency of your route by 10 percent or that you delivered 250 pizzas to satisfied customers without exceeding the 30-minute guarantee.

Review multiple driver resume samples to learn how to showcase your accomplishments professionally. The most impressive resumes use action verbs within the bullet-point descriptions.

Action verbs let the potential employer know that you are a driver who takes charge when it comes to career matters. Reviewing driver resume samples will give you some great ideas, and you can use some of the action verbs listed below.

• Navigate
• Coordinate
• Deliver
• Verify
• Maintain
• Inspect
• Ensure
• Distribute
• Transport
• Operate
• Transfer
• Report
• Retrieve
• Update
• Conduct
• Organize
• Schedule

The skills section, or core qualifications, is where you can highlight your abilities and knowledge that did not quite fit within your education or work experience. This portion is highly important if you have a limited work history or are changing careers. As you can see from driver resume samples, you can highlight your mechanical expertise, clean driving record, physical capabilities, and other skills that are pertinent to the position you want here.

You can list about four to eight items depending on your level of expertise, and this section is usually formatted in bullet points. It is best to write in sentence fragments and to avoid adding periods. Think of the skills section as a quick checklist of items that you think the employer wants to know about your qualifications for the job and the value you can add to the company. Remember to add soft skills like courteous behavior if your job involves meeting customers on a regular basis.

Generally, it is not recommended to add references to your resume. Some people write the phrase “References Available upon Request” as a sign-off, but this practice does not add to your qualifications and only takes up space. The employer will contact you for references when further considering you as a candidate. Including references in your resume can appear assumptive, and the hiring manager may view you in a negative light.

When considering who to use for a reference, think about your past employers and coworkers. You will usually only need two or three people when asked to supply references. Professional relationships are ideal because they can speak about your skills and abilities as they relate to the position you are applying for.

Job opportunities in the driver industry are optimistic across all specialties, with taxi driver prospects at the top. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth rate of taxi drivers and chauffeurs between 2012 and 2022 is 16 percent. The field of heavy truck drivers is next at 11 percent, while bus and delivery drivers are projected to grow by 9 percent. The smallest growth industry is light truck drivers, which is anticipated to be 4 percent.Since the economy is growing, household consumers and businesses are spending more money. This increase in demand leads to a greater need for delivery personnel and long-haul drivers. The growing prices of gas also lead people to demand more public transportation, including buses and taxis. There is higher competition in the local delivery sector, but long-haul drivers have better chances of landing jobs due to low retention rates. The increasing number of school-age children makes the demand for bus drivers higher.

Metropolitan areas with rapid economic growth are the best locations to find driving jobs. In addition, tourism-focused cities like Las Vegas and Hollywood may have more opportunities for motorcoach drivers and specialized professions.