Tractor Driver Resume Example & Writing Guide

You are a driving force in the food production sector or any number of other industries, so build a tractor driver resume that will take you where you want to go!

Before you begin to write your resume, consider all the skills you have that contribute to your success in the field. Then read this guide for helpful resume tips that will show you how to bring your high-level skills to the forefront, and get your tractor driver resume into the hands of the person with hiring power. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What does a tractor driver do?
• Breaking ground with the correct resume structure and best format for your situation
• Cultivate interest in each section of your tractor driver resume: header, profile, employment history, education, and skills
• Ensure your resume layout and design are visually appealing.

Read on to learn how to maximize each section and for a resume sample.

What do tractor drivers do?

Tractor drivers are experts at operating agricultural equipment and heavy power-operated equipment. This requires knowledge of mechanics as well as careful attention to safety. You may be a truck driver or a tractor-trailer driver as well, but tractor driving is a more specific skill.

As a tractor driver, you may drive and control equipment such as a forklift to maintain grounds, or perhaps perform farm work such as tilling soil, planting, and harvesting crops. Some tractor drivers are hired to plow snow, and perform other land and ground services. You may also assist in construction projects, carpentry projects, or other projects that involve the use of heavy power-operated equipment. The goal of a tractor driver is to provide efficient and safe services by correctly operating and utilizing machinery.

How to write an a tractor driver resume

Almost all resumes have the same structure of components in common, regardless of occupation. These are the essential parts, which should take up no more than a single page:

• Header
• Summary
• Employment history section
• Education section
• Skills section

Content-wise, the similarities end there. In fact, no two versions of your tractor driver resume should be exactly the same. Each needs to be customized for the specific job application, focusing on your most directly relevant qualifications. The posted job ad gives the best indication of what the employer needs and wants. It’s also the best source of keywords that your resume should include to avoid rejection by applicant tracking systems (ATS). A growing number of hiring organizations employ these electronic filters to screen job applications submitted online.

Choosing the best resume format for a tractor driver

Nine out of 10 job seekers are well advised to use the traditional chronological resume format to organize their resume information. It’s the easiest way for hiring managers to review your work experience under employer headings, dated in reverse order from most recent to earliest jobs.

But self-employed tractor drivers who have worked primarily as independent contractors may want to consider the functional resume format, emphasizing skills rather than workplaces. Other job applicants adopt the hybrid resume format, combining a chronological experience section with a skills list that’s more prominent than usual. 

Resume header

Set your tractor driver resume apart from the rest with a header that attracts the right kind of attention. Besides making a strong first impression by prominently displaying your name, occupation and contact information, the header will guide hiring managers coming back to your resume when they’re ready to invite you for an interview. 

The striking impact of a well-designed resume header can be reinforced with an identical cover letter header.

Truck driver resume profile example

Employers want to know what value you will add and how you will fit into company culture. Your resume profile, also known as the summary or personal statement, is the best place to do this. Use strong descriptive and action verbs to reveal your personality and greatest skills in this concise resume section.

This is not the place to be shy! Go ahead and boast about your years of experience without exaggerating. Think about your biggest assets and show them off. Include a statement about your proudest professional achievement. Do you have a spotless safety record? Do you have experience with the same type of machinery used in the position for which you are applying? Have you handled hazardous materials safely? Highlight these attributes here.

Below is a tractor driver resume profile you can adapt as it suits.

Layout and formatting

The key here is to keep your resume easy-to-read. Trying too hard to stand out is obvious, and recruiters are unlikely to spend much time on a resume that looks great but is hard on their eyes. You are lucky if recruiters spend more than a few seconds scanning your resume, so make those seconds count!

Make sure you have well-labeled section headings and contact information. Do not cram too much text onto the page: Vary your line lengths to allow for white space which makes reading easier. 

Try Resume.io’s resume builder to ensure your resume format is correct and always save your resume as a PDF file. This will avoid formatting errors that can occur between programs. The resume templates in Resume.io are expert-tested for quality and readability and can be customized if you so choose. Use one of the modern or simple resume templates for a streamlined look.

Employment history sample

In your resume’s employment history section, you want to show a pattern of growth from the basic skills you used in your first job to the higher-level skills or responsibilities you have now. If you are looking for your first job as a tractor driver, you may list jobs in other areas as long as you tie the skills from those jobs to the ones you need for your new position.

Make sure you look carefully at the listed job requirements and incorporate matching descriptions of your relevant experience in this section so that employers know you have done this work, or similar work. Be sure to highlight your understanding of heavy power-operated equipment, and list specific examples. Call attention to your ability to ensure proper vehicle function and safe travel at all times by giving an example of how you do so. Also mention your knowledge of vehicle or machine systems, and ability to perform basic preventive and service maintenance if applicable.

Make note of training or skills you learned on the job to show that you are willing to take on new challenges. Remember to use powerful action verbs to describe job-specific accomplishments that prove you are an excellent candidate. Instead of just listing job responsibilities, try to include something you achieved while managing those responsibilities.

Below is a tractor driver employment history resume sample you can modify.

Tractor driver education example

Tractor drivers generally need a high school diploma, although an associate’s degree from a community college may give you a boost. Depending on the state, you may need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or for heavy equipment, a Class A CDL. This should be listed in your resume's education section, along with any certifications you hold.

The on-the-job training that you receive can be included in your employment history section. However, any formal training you receive should appear in the education section. Be sure to mention any workshops or courses you have taken involving tractor driving or heavy power-operated equipment.

All of the information in this section should be listed in reverse chronological order, from highest to lowest level.

You can adapt this education section from a tractor driver resume to your own background.

CV skills example

The skills section of your CV is a listing of five to 10 abilities that can be easily scanned by employers. Ideally you’ll have provided examples in your employment history section of how these skills were applied in past jobs. Still, it’s important to spell them out here. Remember that only the most impressive resumes get more than a brief look, so you want to offer as much information as possible for those fleeting few moments.

Again, look at the job listing and match the wording for as many of the required skills with those highlighted here. Be as specific as possible. Mention the exact equipment you have used, especially if it is also mentioned in the job listing. 

Try for a mix of hard (technical) skills and soft ("people") skills, and focus on those at a higher level that are more likely to elevate you above other applicants.

Check out a tractor driver CV sample for the skills section below.

Resume layout, design, and formatting

The key here is to keep your resume easy to read. Trying too hard to stand out is obvious, and recruiters are unlikely to spend much time on a resume that looks great but is hard on their eyes. You are lucky if recruiters spend more than a few seconds scanning your resume, so make those seconds count!

Make sure you have well-labeled section headings and contact information. Do not cram too much text onto the page: Vary your line lengths to allow for white space which makes reading easier. 

Key takeaways

1. An exceptional tractor driver resume can give you a winning edge over other job applicants who may be equally qualified.
2. Strategically ensure each version of your resume is matched to each specific job application, directly addressing the employer’s needs.
3. The problem-solving connection you make with hiring managers in your resume profile  should be strengthened in the employment history and skills list.
4. Resume.io’s field-tested resume templates make it easy to create a visually impressive, reader-friendly document.