Top 12 Local Truck Driver Skills to Put on Your Resume
Local routes move fast, and hiring managers move faster. The right skills on your resume make you visible in that split-second scan. Below are the 12 core abilities that prove you’re safe, efficient, and ready to deliver—day after day, block by block.
Local Truck Driver Skills
- CDL (Commercial Driver's License)
- HAZMAT Endorsement
- ELD (Electronic Logging Devices)
- GPS Navigation
- Defensive Driving
- Pre-Trip Inspection
- Air Brake Certification
- DOT Regulations
- Freight Securement
- Smith System
- Time Management
- Customer Service
1. CDL (Commercial Driver's License)
A CDL is the legal ticket to operate commercial motor vehicles. It covers Classes A, B, and C, plus endorsements for specific work (tanker, doubles/triples, passenger, school bus, hazmat). For local drivers, it proves you can safely run the right equipment within intrastate or interstate rules.
Why It's Important
Without a CDL, you don’t drive commercially—full stop. With it, you demonstrate verified skill, regulatory compliance, and accountability behind the wheel of heavy vehicles.
How to Improve CDL (Commercial Driver's License) Skills
Sharpen the fundamentals and stay current. Practice pre-trip routines until they’re muscle memory, keep backing skills tight, and refresh road-test techniques periodically. Track endorsement options that fit local routes (air brakes, tanker, hazmat). Maintain your medical card, keep a clean MVR, and review rule updates each year. Short refreshers, ride-alongs, and mock tests help you spot small mistakes before they become big ones.
How to Display CDL (Commercial Driver's License) Skills on Your Resume
2. HAZMAT Endorsement
A HAZMAT endorsement authorizes you to haul hazardous materials that require placarding. It involves a knowledge test, TSA background check with fingerprinting, and ongoing recurrent training.
Why It's Important
It opens doors to more loads, often better pay, and shows you can manage high-risk cargo with strict safety habits.
How to Improve HAZMAT Endorsement Skills
Study the hazmat sections of the CDL manual deeply, including classes, divisions, placards, segregation, and emergency response info. Practice with scenario questions until labeling and paperwork feel automatic. Keep recurrent hazmat training up to date (at least every three years) and renew the endorsement and background check on schedule. Build a checklist for shipping papers, securement, and vehicle inspections specific to hazmat loads.
How to Display HAZMAT Endorsement Skills on Your Resume
3. ELD (Electronic Logging Devices)
ELDs record duty status and driving time. Many local drivers use the short-haul timecard exception, but when logs are required, ELD proficiency keeps you compliant and organized.
Why It's Important
Accurate logs protect your license, your company, and your schedule. Clean records reduce violations and headaches during inspections.
How to Improve ELD (Electronic Logging Devices) Skills
Learn all duty statuses and when to apply them. Annotate clearly, fix errors promptly, and practice data transfers so roadside checks go smoothly. Do a quick device check before roll-out, know what to do during malfunctions, and understand your carrier’s edit policies. Sync ELD planning with your route and dock times to avoid avoidable violations.
How to Display ELD (Electronic Logging Devices) Skills on Your Resume
4. GPS Navigation
Truck-aware GPS keeps you on legal roads, away from low bridges and weight-restricted streets, and pointed to the right dock faster.
Why It's Important
Better routing saves fuel, trims delays, and slashes wrong turns. That means calmer days and on-time deliveries.
How to Improve GPS Navigation Skills
Use truck-specific routing with accurate vehicle dimensions entered. Pre-plan stops, verify addresses and dock entrances, and save custom notes for tricky locations. Keep maps updated and download offline areas for dead zones. Cross-check with dispatch notes and posted signs; if data and reality disagree, obey the signs. Build alternate routes for known bottlenecks.
How to Display GPS Navigation Skills on Your Resume
5. Defensive Driving
Drive like everyone else might make a mistake. Scan wide, manage space, and anticipate conflict before it happens.
Why It's Important
It cuts crash risk, protects your record, and keeps freight moving even when traffic and weather go sideways.
How to Improve Defensive Driving Skills
Keep a 4–6 second following gap, more in rain or heavy loads. Check mirrors often and watch blind spots. Control speed on curves, leave escape routes, and avoid distractions. Adjust early for weather, construction, school zones, and tight urban turns. Commit to smooth inputs—brake, throttle, and steering—so cargo and tires stay happy.
How to Display Defensive Driving Skills on Your Resume
6. Pre-Trip Inspection
A thorough pre-trip confirms the truck is roadworthy—brakes, lights, tires, steering, leaks, securement, emergency gear, and paperwork.
Why It's Important
It prevents breakdowns, flags hazards before they bite, and satisfies inspection requirements. Small fixes now beat big failures later.
How to Improve Pre-Trip Inspection Skills
Use a consistent, bumper-to-bumper routine and stick to it. Touch components, don’t just look. Test air brakes and warning systems, verify fluid levels, and check hubs, couplers, and lines. Log defects clearly and confirm repairs. Time yourself—fast is good, thorough is better. Recheck after your first 50 miles if you’ve secured freight.
How to Display Pre-Trip Inspection Skills on Your Resume
7. Air Brake Certification
Often referred to as an air brake endorsement or removal of the air-brake restriction, this proves you understand how air brake systems work and can operate vehicles equipped with them. It includes a knowledge test and, in many states, a road test in an air-brake-equipped vehicle.
Why It's Important
Most medium and heavy trucks you’ll run locally have air brakes. This endorsement broadens your employability and ensures you handle the system safely.
How to Improve Air Brake Certification Skills
Master component function (compressor, governor, reservoirs, valves), air loss tests, and low-air warning actions. Practice controlled stops and parking on grades. Learn slack adjuster checks and what to do with audible leaks or slow builds. If your state requires it, test in a truck with air brakes to avoid restrictions.
How to Display Air Brake Certification Skills on Your Resume
8. DOT Regulations
These are the rules that govern commercial driving: hours of service, vehicle condition, driver qualifications and medical fitness, drug and alcohol testing, and more.
Why It's Important
Compliance keeps you legal and employable. It also cuts risk for everyone around you.
How to Improve DOT Regulations Skills
Know which rules apply to your role, especially HOS limits and short-haul exceptions. Keep documents current: medical certificate, license, endorsements, and any required program enrollments. Complete inspections and defect reports properly. Understand roadside inspection levels and how to present logs and paperwork quickly. Ask safety staff for refreshers; regulations evolve, and so should your knowledge.
How to Display DOT Regulations Skills on Your Resume
9. Freight Securement
Proper securement prevents cargo from shifting, tipping, or escaping. It’s technique, equipment choice, and discipline working together.
Why It's Important
Shifting loads damage freight, hurt equipment, and cause crashes. Good securement protects you, the product, and the public.
How to Improve Freight Securement Skills
Match securement to the cargo type and center of gravity. Use enough tie-downs with adequate working load limits—at least one for the first 10 feet and one for each additional 10 feet, or as required for the commodity. Inspect straps, chains, and binders for wear before use. Block and brace smartly, protect edges, and recheck tension after the first 50 miles and periodically thereafter. Document what you did; details matter.
How to Display Freight Securement Skills on Your Resume
10. Smith System
A five-rule defensive driving method: aim high in steering, get the big picture, keep your eyes moving, leave yourself an out, and make sure they see you.
Why It's Important
It sharpens awareness, reduces reaction time, and builds habits that prevent collisions—especially in dense city traffic.
How to Improve Smith System Skills
Lift your eyes downrange and plan early. Scan mirrors rhythmically and avoid tunnel vision. Maintain space cushions so you always have an escape path. Communicate constantly with signals, lights, and position on the road. Practice these rules on every run until they become automatic.
How to Display Smith System Skills on Your Resume
11. Time Management
Smart planning turns a chaotic route into a steady rhythm. Balance dispatch needs, traffic patterns, dock schedules, and your legal duty window.
Why It's Important
It keeps you on time, compliant, and less stressed—while squeezing more productivity from the same hours.
How to Improve Time Management Skills
Batch nearby stops and plan around rush hours. Build buffers for live loads and tight docks. Pre-stage paperwork and organize the cab so you don’t waste minutes searching. Set departure deadlines for each leg and stick to them. Review your day afterward: what slipped, what worked, and what to tweak tomorrow.
How to Display Time Management Skills on Your Resume
12. Customer Service
Beyond driving, you represent the company at the dock. Clear communication, care for the freight, and a professional attitude turn first-time customers into regulars.
Why It's Important
Great service secures repeat orders and smoother appointments. It’s revenue, reputation, and route stability.
How to Improve Customer Service Skills
Confirm ETAs early and update quickly if things change. Arrive prepared with correct paperwork and any special instructions. Protect freight during handling and get accurate, legible proof of delivery. Be courteous, resolve small issues on the spot, and escalate larger ones fast. Ask for feedback; use it to shave time and friction off future stops.
How to Display Customer Service Skills on Your Resume
