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CDL Resume Keywords by Driving Job Type

The general keyword guide covers how ATS screening works. This page is the reference list, split by the kind of driving job you are applying for.

One rule applies to every list below: only use a term that is true of you. A keyword that gets you past a filter and then falls apart in a phone screen has cost you time, not saved it.

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OTR and long-haul

  • Over-the-road (OTR), 48-state, long-haul, sleeper berth, solo, team driving
  • Trip planning, Hours of Service, 34-hour reset, electronic logging device
  • Drop and hook, live load, live unload, detention
  • Scaling, axle weights, weight compliance, permitted routes

Regional and dedicated

  • Regional, dedicated, linehaul, home weekly, terminal-to-terminal
  • Distribution center, DC delivery, appointment delivery, receiving window
  • Drop yard, shuttle run, relay

Local and delivery

  • Local delivery, home daily, multi-stop, route delivery, last-mile
  • Lift gate, pallet jack, hand truck, hand unload, driver assist
  • Proof of delivery, delivery documentation, handheld scanner
  • Customer service, retail delivery, food service delivery

Flatbed and specialised

  • Flatbed, step deck, drop deck, RGN, lowboy, Conestoga
  • Cargo securement, chains, binders, ratchet straps, edge protection, coil racks
  • Tarping, steel tarp, lumber tarp, smoke tarp
  • Oversize, over-dimensional, permits, pilot car, heavy haul

Tanker, fuel and HazMat

  • Tanker endorsement (N), HazMat endorsement (H), Tanker + HazMat (X), TWIC
  • Bulk liquid, food grade, chemical, petroleum, dry bulk, pneumatic
  • Rack loading, ullage, gauging, grounding, bonding, vapor recovery
  • Placarding, shipping papers, emergency response information, segregation
  • Liquid surge, compartment loading

Reefer and food

  • Refrigerated, reefer, temperature-controlled, multi-temp
  • Pre-cool, set point, continuous run, start-stop, temperature recorder
  • Produce, frozen, dairy, grocery distribution, food safety

Construction, dump and municipal

  • Dump truck, tandem, tri-axle, end dump, belly dump, transfer, super dump
  • Aggregate, asphalt, sand, gravel, fill, spoils
  • Quarry, batch plant, job site, grade, spotter
  • Roll-off, refuse, mixer, plow, spreader, seasonal

Terms that apply everywhere

  • CDL Class A, CDL Class B, DOT compliance, FMCSA regulations
  • Pre-trip inspection, post-trip inspection, DVIR, logbook
  • Bill of lading, freight documentation, defensive driving, clean MVR

Frequently asked questions

How many of these should I use?

Only the ones your experience supports, and only as many as fit naturally into a summary, a skills list and your job bullets. That is usually fifteen to twenty-five distinct terms across the whole resume.

Should I add a "Keywords" section at the bottom?

No. It looks like gaming the system and it wastes space. Put the terms where they belong.

Do endorsement letter codes help?

Yes. Some requisitions are written with the codes and some with the names. Writing "HazMat (H)" covers both.

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