Truck Driver Skills: Hard Skills, Soft Skills & Tools

What skills do truck drivers need?

Truck Drivers need technical skills such as commercial vehicle operation, pre-trip inspections, and hours-of-service compliance, plus people skills like independence and self-discipline and patience and focus. They also use tools such as Tractor-trailers and sleeper cabs and Electronic logging devices (ELDs).

Technical (hard) skills

Commercial vehicle operation
Pre-trip inspections
Hours-of-service compliance
Backing and maneuvering
Route planning
Cargo securement

People (soft) skills

Independence and self-discipline
Patience and focus
Time management
Professional communication

Tools, equipment and technology

Tractor-trailers and sleeper cabs
Electronic logging devices (ELDs)
Truck-specific GPS and routing apps
Load locks, straps and chains
Tire gauges and inspection flashlights
Fuel cards and dispatch apps

Skills in action: common tasks

These step-by-step guides show how truck drivers put their skills to work:

How to show these skills on a resume

Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Commercial vehicle operation” and “Pre-trip inspections.”
Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “independence and self-discipline,” describe a situation where you used it.
List credentials such as CDL Class A near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our truck driver glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.

How to build these skills

Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Truck Driver training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.

Build these skills Test your knowledge

Truck Driver Skills & Tools