OTR Driver Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Otr Driver resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
OTR stands for “over the road,” which refers to truck drivers who make long-distance trips rather than local deliveries. If you love being on the road and exploring new places, but don’t want to settle for a 9-to-5 job, driving OTR could be just what you’re looking for.
Before you can land an OTR driving job, you’ll need to write an effective OTR driver resume that highlights your skills and experience. Here are some tips and an example resume to help you do just that.
How to Write an OTR Driver Resume
Here’s how to write an otr driver resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the only thing hiring managers will read. So it’s crucial that you use them to your advantage by highlighting your most impressive accomplishments.
For example, rather than saying you “drove a truck,” you could say you “drove a truck for 24-hour shift, delivering 2,000 cases of beer to 15 different locations across a 10-mile radius in less than 6 hours.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about what you did and the results of your work.
Related: What Is an OTR Driver? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for an otr driver job, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system will scan your resume for certain keywords related to the position. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.
The best way to make sure your resume contains the right keywords is to carefully read through the job posting and take note of the terms that are used most frequently. Then, use those same terms in your resume where they are relevant.
- Truck Driving
- Logistics Management
- Driving
- Heavy Equipment
- Transportation
- Teamwork
- Forklift Operation
- Military
- Military Operations
- Operations Management
- Negotiation
- Military Training
- U.S. Department of Defense
- Customer Service
- Management
- Supervisory Skills
- Inventory Management
- Military logistics
- Data Entry
- Sales
- Team Leadership
- Leadership
- Microsoft Access
- Warehouse Operations
- Customer Satisfaction
- Team Building
- Strategic Planning
- Sales Management
- Project Management
- Teaching
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Commercial truck drivers use a variety of technologies while on the road, so it’s important to list any relevant technical skills you have. Some of the most common programs and systems that truck drivers use include electronic logs, Qualcomm, and satellite navigation. Additionally, truck drivers need to be familiar with trucking-specific procedures and safety regulations.
Related: How Much Does an OTR Driver Make?
Remember The Basics
As you’re crafting your resume, it’s important to keep a few basic guidelines in mind.
Make It Easy to Scan
There are a few things you can do to make your resume more readable, including left-aligning your text, using a standard font, and keeping your bullet points concise. You should also try to use all-caps and bold sparingly, and keep your bullets under two lines. Additionally, you can include some white space on the page to help your resume look less overwhelming.
Be Concise
There is no set length for a resume, but it is typically recommended to keep it to one or two pages long. A one-page resume is perfect for recent graduates or those early in their careers, while a two-page resume is more common for those with eight or more years of experience. When reducing the length of your resume, be sure to remove unnecessary information that is not relevant to the position you are applying for.
Check Your Work
Proofreading your resume is important in order to make sure it looks professional and error-free. Spell checking is a must, as are punctuation and grammar checks. It is also helpful to have someone else proofread your resume for you, as they may catch mistakes that you have missed. Beware of easily confused words, and make sure that your tense is consistent throughout the resume.
Consider Including a Summary
A resume summary statement can be an extremely useful way to introduce yourself to a potential employer and highlight the skills and experiences that make you the best candidate for the job. By summarizing your experience and skills, you can make it easy for a recruiter to see how you might be a good fit for the role. When drafting your summary, be sure to focus on your most relevant skills and experiences, and be clear about your intentions. Keep it short and sweet, and make sure to tailor it to the specific role you’re applying for.
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