Crafting a CDL truck driver cover letter can feel like navigating a tricky highway. You've hit the gas on job applications only to find out a compelling cover letter is part of the journey. Forget rehashing your resume; it’s time to steer towards showcasing a career highlight that makes you proud. Aim for authenticity over tired clichés and keep it concise — a one-page limit is your destination. Let's roll up our sleeves and pave the way to a cover letter that drives home your achievements.
- Write a cdl truck driver cover letter that helps you stand out (and get the job);
- Understand how to start and end your cdl truck driver cover letter with the appropriate greeting;
- What to include in the body of your cdl truck driver cover letter to put your best foot forward;
- Your most important achievements - how to present them as part of your cdl truck driver cover letter.
And if you want to make your life even easier, simply drag and drop your cdl truck driver resume into Enhancv's AI cover letter generator, and it will write your cover letter for you in just a few moments.
If the cdl truck driver isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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CDL Truck Driver cover letter example
Timothy Duncan
Denver, Colorado
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Emphasizing direct experience within the industry, such as tenure with FedEx and UPS, demonstrates familiarity with the field’s best practices and operational standards.
- Quantifiable achievements, like a 15% reduction in delivery times and a 95% customer satisfaction rate, concrete evidence of capability and results-oriented performance.
- Including specific recognition, such as 'Employee of the Month' awards, provides tangible proof of excellence and dedication in past roles.
- Expressing eagerness to contribute to and grow with the team shows a forward-looking attitude and readiness to integrate with the company's culture and aims.
The must-have sections and format of your cdl truck driver cover letter
When writing your cdl truck driver cover letter, keep in mind that it'll only be read by the recruiters and not the Applicant Tracker System (or software used to assess your profile). That's why you should structure your content with a/an:
- Header (apart from your contact information, include your name, the role you're applying for, and the date);
- Personalized salutation;
- Opening paragraph to win the recruiters over;
- Middle paragraph with key details;
- Closing that starts from clichés;
- Sign off (that's not mandatory).
Industry standards dictate your paragraphs to be single-spaced and to wrap your content in a one-inch margin. Designing your cdl truck driver cover letter, refer to one of our templates, which automatically takes care of the spacing and margins.
Choose the same font for your cdl truck driver cover letter as you did for your resume: the likes of Lato and Bitter would help you to stand out in a sea of cover letters in Arial or Times New Roman.
Export your whole cdl truck driver cover letter from our builder in PDF to keep the same formatting and image quality.
The top sections on a cdl truck driver cover letter
- Header: The header should include your contact information, date, and the employer's contact details, making it easy for them to know who you are and how to reach you.
- Greeting: Personalize the greeting by addressing the hiring manager directly if you know their name, showing professionalism and attention to detail.
- Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself, including your CDL qualification and years of experience, to immediately establish your fit for the truck driving position.
- Body: Highlight specific driving experiences, safety records, and any specialized knowledge such as hazardous materials handling or long-haul expertise to showcase your skills and relevance to the job.
- Closing: Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to work with their company, and include a call to action, such as requesting an interview or discussing your application in further detail.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Safe driving record: Recruiters prioritize candidates with a history of accident-free driving as it demonstrates reliability and a strong commitment to safety standards.
- Professional CDL certification: Holding a current and appropriate Commercial Driver’s License is crucial for legal compliance and showcases a foundational level of knowledge and expertise in commercial driving.
- Experience with different types of trucks and loads: Being able to handle a variety of vehicles and cargo indicates adaptability and a broad skill set, which is essential for handling diverse driving assignments.
- Understanding of DOT regulations: In-depth knowledge of Department of Transportation rules ensures that the driver is aware of legal requirements and can maintain compliance on the road.
- Physical fitness and endurance: The ability to manage long hours and physically demanding tasks, such as loading and unloading cargo, is important for a CDL truck driver's daily duties.
- Strong navigation and time management skills: Demonstrating the ability to efficiently plan routes and adhere to schedules creates confidence in a driver's ability to meet delivery timelines and optimize operations.
Greeting recruiters with your cdl truck driver cover letter salutation
What better way to start your conversation with the hiring manager, than by greeting them?
Take the time to find out who the professional, recruiting for the role, is.
Search on LinkedIn, the company website. And for those still keen on making a fantastic first impression, you could even contact the organization, asking for the recruiter's name and more details about the job.
Address recruiters in the cdl truck driver greeting by either their first name or last name. (e.g. "Dear Anthony" or "Dear Ms. Smarts").
If you're unable to discover the recruiter's name - don't go for the impersonal "To whom it may concern", but instead use "Dear HR team".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Recruiter,
- Dear [Specific Job Title] Hiring Team,
- Dear [Department] Department,
- Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr.] [Last Name],
How to start your cdl truck driver cover letter introduction
The opening paragraph of your cdl truck driver cover letter can seem like a real enigma.
Where do you start writing?
In your cdl truck driver cover letter introduction, focus on yourself by stating what:
- gets you motivated and excited about the role;
- you like best about the company, from culture to awards.
Write no more than two sentences, which are both authentic and show your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
What comes next: your cdl truck driver cover letter middle paragraphs
In the next three to six paragraphs (or the body of your cdl truck driver cover letter) you have to prove your unique value.
Most candidates tend to mess up at this stage. They tend to just copy-paste information from their resume.
That's one big no-no.
Remember that when writing your cdl truck driver cover letter, it has to be personalized. And, your ultimate aim is to catch the recruiter's eye.
So, look back on key job requirements and write down a list that includes the ones you cover.
Next, select just one key achievement from your professional (or personal) history that meets those advert keywords.
Narrate a story around how you've grown your skill set and knowledge. Also, aim to show the unique understanding or soft skills you bring about, thanks to your past success.
Thinking about the closing paragraph of your cdl truck driver cover letter
Before your signature, you have extra space to close off your cdl truck driver cover letter.
Use it to either make a promise or look to the future.
Remind recruiters how invaluable of a candidate you are by showing what you plan to achieve in the role.
Also, note your availability for a potential next meeting (in person or over the telephone).
By showing recruiters that you're thinking about the future, you'd come off as both interested in the opportunity and responsible.
Addressing limited to no experience in the cdl truck driver cover letter
There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience.
Your cdl truck driver cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:
- skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
- achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
- motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.
Key takeaways
Turning your cdl truck driver cover letter into a success is all about staying authentic to yourself and relevant to the job:
- Be creative with your cdl truck driver cover letter introduction by stating something you enjoy about the company (that is genuine) or about your skill set (to get the recruiters' interested);
- Use single spacing and have a one-inch margin wrapping all around the content of your cdl truck driver cover letter;
- Select just one past achievement from your career or life to tell a story of how you've obtained job-crucial skills and how they'd be beneficial to the role;
- The finishing paragraph of your cdl truck driver cover letter doesn't necessarily have to be a signature but could be a promise of what you plan to achieve in the role;
- Instead of focusing on your lack of experience, spotlight your transferable skills, one relevant achievement, and career dreams.
