Advice and questions about resumes in the trucking industry

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BeHereNow97, Feb 10, 2021.

  1. BeHereNow97

    BeHereNow97 Heavy Load Member

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    I graduated CDL School from a Community College in late 2018. I signed on with a mid sized company and stayed with them from late 2018 until February 2021.

    A few questions:

    1. My company changed its name this year in 2021. On my resume should I put its current name and then in parenthesis "Formerly" or just put its current name. For example:

    Company A (Formerly Company B)

    2. If I need to put my old company's name on my resume (along with the current name obviously), for how long do I need to do that before I can just put its current name? 1 year? 2 years? 3 years? At what point can I just put my old company's current name instead of adding the "formerly" part in there, if I even need to add the "formerly" part in there in the first place?

    3. Do I need to put the CDL School from my Community College that I graduated from in late 2018 on my resume, or after 2+ years is it not necessary to list it anymore? If I still need to list the CDL school that I graduated from in late 2018, do I need to list my graduation date/place for the rest of my truck driving career? For the next 5 years? Next 10 years?

    4. Are resumes used in the trucking industry or just long forms where you have to account for what you did (unemployed, employed, schooling, etc. etc.) for the past 3 - 10 years or so? See my note below for what I mean:

    Note/Further Info on Question #4: I know for my former company I filled out a long form that went back quite a few years (at least 3 years, maybe more I can't remember though). So, I know the CDL school will still show up on my long form. But my question is pertaining to resumes themselves.

    I can't remember if I even gave my now former company a resume when I started with them in late 2018? I went to a company that recruited out of the Community College where my CDL school was at (they had a partnership with them) and I think the recruiter might have just wanted a long form instead of a traditional resume. I don't even know if I gave them a traditional resume like you would in a white collared environment? I don't think I did and I don't think I was even asked to provide a resume, I think they just wanted a long form?

    Anyways, any help with my questions and questions in general related to how resumes work in the trucking industry would be much appreciated. Even if resumes aren't needed my questions 1 -3 are still relevant to the long forms that I will have to fill out with whatever company I go to.

    Thanks in advance!
     
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  3. GoneButNotForgotten

    GoneButNotForgotten Heavy Load Member

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    Usually just fill out the driver application. Of course it ask about your past employment, education, etc. Attaching a resume would be rare.
     
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  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Right, just fill out the job application; don't need a resume.
     
  5. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    A resume,,,to drive a truck? I know, it's 2021, but a far cry from my 1st trucking job. I filled out a 3x5 index card with a few phone numbers of next of kin, went for a 10 minute ride, the boss saw I knew what I was doing, and I was trailer truckin' that very afternoon. I didn't even have a chauffeurs license. Times sure have changed,,:oops:
     
  6. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    Ive never gotten a job... ANY job... By submitting a resume. If they require a resume then its to white collar for my liking.

    And to be honest ive only ever had one job that I got by filling out an application... If I want a job I walk in and talk to them, get a looksie around. If they won't hire me like that, they are too uppity to my liking.
     
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  7. TequilaSunrise

    TequilaSunrise Medium Load Member

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    I submitted a resume for the job I have now. It was requested. I did include my cdl schooling because the 160 hour course was a requirement for the job and I had no real life experience in the trucking industry.

    It was just like any other resume except I laid out all that I had learned at school. In your case, I would notate that relevant information under your trucking jobs and indicate that I was a state certified cdl school the same way I would write down any other schooling.

    Best!
     
  8. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    We had it made, pal. That used to be the way, but today, that''s just not the case. I got several jobs by just talking to one of the drivers, 2 in a week once. Back then, it was usually "same shxx, different shovel", a trucking job was a trucking job. Today it's treated as some high and mighty profession, right up there with astronauts and such, but you know, it's still just driving a truck.:dontknow:
     
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  9. meechyaboy

    meechyaboy Heavy Load Member

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    You can send in a resume and they still ask you to fill out a driver application for the job history cause they’re too lazy to copy and paste
     
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  10. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

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    we don't need no stinking resumes!!

    although having all the info written down for filling out the app is a good idea.
     
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  11. TequilaSunrise

    TequilaSunrise Medium Load Member

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    True... But they won't ask you if they specify in the job posting to send your resume to..... Abc
     
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