Working as a lorry or HGV driver can be a great career to stick with for the long haul. Without requiring a specialised educational background or years of training, it’s a job you can steer yourself into quickly.
Of course, there are some skills required — those giant vehicles don’t drive themselves, after all — and your lorry driver CV should showcase them in a compelling way.
That means you’ll need a lorry driver CV that displays your experience, skills, and achievements in a way that catches the hiring manager’s attention.
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This CV guide and corresponding truck driver CV example will cover the following:
The very first step in writing your truck driver CV is understanding the important sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:
Applying for jobs can feel like a long road, but with the right tools and knowledge, it’ll be more of a fun road trip than a slog. This starts with your CV; you want to create a persuasive narrative about why you’re the best driver for the job. Identify the company’s needs and use your CV to show all the reasons you’re the best fit to fill those needs.
To do this well, try this formula:
Optimise for the ATS
An applicant tracking system, or ATS, is a system companies use to collect and manage applications. Advanced systems may use algorithms to help screen resumes for keywords that are aligned with the job description, then pass the highest-ranking CVs along.
For example, a lorry driver job posting may include the following requirements:
Your CV profile summary, when integrating the keywords, could read:
“CPC accredited lorry driver with over 10 years of experience, exceptionally clean driving record, and active driving licence. Excellent navigational abilities and time management skills.”
Your CV should be like a road map — straightforward, well laid-out, and clear.
The best format for most lorry driver CVs is reverse chronological. This format focuses primarily on the employment history section, listed in reverse chronological order to put the spotlight on your most recent experience.
If you’re just starting your truck driving career, or making a career pivot into the field, you may consider a functional or skills-based CV format, which puts the focus on your skills instead of specific employment history.
Take a look at the many CV templates in our CV builder and select the format that best suits your situation. There are plenty of CV examples that use each format as well.
When it comes to design, make sure your lorry driver CV is clean, clear, and easy to read — a crisp, simple layout is a great place to start.
Just like you need an address to set off toward, the hiring manager needs to know your contact information to start the hiring process. That’s where your header comes in.
It’s most important to ensure your contact information is presented in an easily accessible, professional way.
Don’t include:
First Name Last Name
Lorry Driver
[Phone number]
[Email address]
First Name Last Name
Lorry Driver Extraordinaire
Street address
[Phone number]
luvinthosetrucks@email.com
The summary on your CV is a great place to show your talents. In no more than 2-4 sentences, you can introduce yourself and make it clear why you’re exactly the person they need to hire. For maximum impact, you will want to showcase your achievements, not just the type of duties you checked off.
Try to use action verbs in the simple past or present tense — think: demonstrated, initiated, spearheaded, achieved — and include quantifiable achievements wherever possible.
Don’t just repeat highlights found elsewhere on the page. Instead, present the abilities and traits that make you good at what you do. The CV summary should demonstrate your unique value proposition. For example, “Consistently exceeded delivery goals with exceptional driving record.”
This is a chance to show who you are and what they’ll experience if they hire you, so make it count.
Need inspiration for your summary? Check out our related resumes:
You can find adaptable lorry driver/HGV example summaries below:
Detail oriented, safety conscious lorry driver with clean driving record and valid UK licence. Eager to leverage recent training and past experience as a delivery driver to contribute to the transportation industry and ensure timely delivery of goods.
Experienced lorry driver with 5+ years of experience navigating challenging routes and ensuring prompt, safe delivery of various goods. Adept at vehicle maintenance and addressing logistical challenges promptly. Valid UK driving licence and exceptionally clean driving record.
Seasoned lorry driver with over 10 years of experience in long-haul transport and logistics management. Frequently recognised for exceptional problem-solving abilities and ability to lead and mentor new drivers. Proven success at route optimisation, cost reduction, and compliance, as well as consistently clean driving record and valid licence.
Using the reverse chronological format, list your current or most recent job at the top of this section, then work your way back to your earlier jobs. Don’t include work older than 10-15 years, as this is less likely to be relevant and can invite ageism. Be sure to focus on work that’s directly related to the job you’re applying to; if you have other experience you’d like to include, consider creating an “Other Experience” section.
Underneath each employer and role heading, detail your contributions and impacts in concise bullet point statements. Omit personal pronouns like “I” and “my.” Try to be as specific as possible, start each bullet point with an action verb, and include quantifiable metrics where you can.
Demonstrate tangible outcomes instead of just job duties. For instance, a basic lorry driver CV may include statements like these:
While these are in line with what a lorry driver might do, they’re also very vague — they could apply to any lorry driver anywhere. They don’t show your specific performance.
When you replace these statements with results-based points that display the impact you had on the company, it completely transforms them. Take a look at these reworked statements:
Take a look at the lorry driver employment history CV sample below:
Lorry and HGV Driver at SRC Group, Cambridge
2018 - Present
Lorry Driver at ADR Network, Haverhill
2015 - 2018
When creating an HGV CV without direct industry experience, increase your success by emphasising your transferable skills and your passion for the transportation sector.
Include any educational background in logistics, transportation, or vehicle maintenance. If you’ve taken courses, workshops, or training programs, add that as well. Of course, you should include any relevant commercial driving licences you’ve earned.
Think through your past experience and call out any relevant skills. For example, if you have experience as a delivery driver or mechanic, or you’ve worked as a dispatcher focusing on route optimisation, these could be great skills to include.
While it doesn’t always make sense to include personal interests or hobbies on your CV, when applying for a job without experience, it can be beneficial to include them if they’re relevant.
Adding these details to your CV can illustrate your potential and your drive, even if you lack direct experience.
Your CV skills list should include both hard and soft skills to illustrate the full range of your abilities.
Hard skills are those that are measurable or demonstrable, like expertise using route optimisation software or holding a commercial driving licence. Things like logistics experience or an understanding of mechanics also count as hard skills.
On the other hand, but no less important, soft skills showcase your interpersonal skills or personality traits. For instance, organisational skills, a knack for navigation, or a passion for mentorship are all great soft skills to include.
Our CV builder provides a multitude of pre-written skills to consider, or you can write your own.
Here’s what the skills box looks like in our CV template for truck drivers.
While the skills section of your CV is the most obvious place to show your skills, it’s not the only place. Sprinkle skills throughout your CV to show your skills in action, and show credibility by providing specific examples and achievements.
For example, in the work experience and professional summary, highlight things like:
The job advert is a great place to start if you’re looking for guidance on what skills to include.
The education section is pretty straightforward on a lorry driver CV. You will list your academic achievements in reverse chronological order; if you have a university degree, there’s no need to include earlier education.
Because lorry and HGV driver roles don’t typically require formal education, you’ll also want to include things that are specific to the role, like commercial driving licences and any relevant training programs. For example,
Category C1 License, The HGV Training Company, Cambridge
Class 2 license, The HGV Training Company, Cambridge
ADR certified
Your CV’s design is an important part of the process, as it’s how the hiring team will navigate through your past experience and your skills. The design and layout should grab attention while being easy to read and pleasing to look at.
We recommend a streamlined design, modern font, and limited colour, like our Paris template. If you’re looking for inspiration or hoping to play around with truck driver CV samples, our CV templates may be of interest. With all the formatting and structure taken care of for you, they’ll set you on the road to success.
Profile
Experienced and reliable Lorry and HGV driver seeking a position within a reputable transportation company to utilise my skills in vehicle operation, cargo handling, and customer service.
Employment history
Lorry and HGV Driver at SRC Group, Cambridge
2018 - Present
Lorry Driver at ADR Network, Haverhill
2015 - 2018
Skills
Education
Category C1 License, The HGV Training Company, Cambridge
Class 2 license, The HGV Training Company, Cambridge
ADR certified
There is plenty of opportunity for those looking to break into or move up in the lorry driving industry. Per the Global Employment Bureau, there’s a shortage of lorry drivers in the UK. That means there’s less competition for jobs, and companies are eagerly looking to hire drivers.
This shortage began with the COVID-19 pandemic, when licensing authorities were unable to conduct necessary driving tests. Additionally, a number of drivers took this time as an opportunity to retire early, which further exacerbated the shortage. Finally, the UK’s decision to exit the EU resulted in a decline in EU-based drivers willing to come to the UK for work.
According to the UK’s National Career Service, lorry/HGV/LGV drivers earn an average of £22,000 to £40,000 per year with an average workweek of 38 to 52 hours. Some estimates go as high as £50,000 per year.
A career as a lorry driver can be fulfilling for those who like to wander, don’t want to be stuck behind a desk, and enjoy navigating complex routes.
Leveraging our online CV builder will help you navigate the process of creating an excellent CV and catching the hiring manager's eye so you can land the job and get out on the open road.