How to write an owner-operator resume: 5 steps plus examples

April 29, 2024

A man standing outside beside a tanker truck, smiling straight forward with his arms crossed.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

If you’re an owner-operator who wants to do business with a motor carrier, you might be wondering if you should submit a résumé when you apply for opportunities. While it’s not always a requirement to do so, a résumé can be a great way to help you stand out from other applicants.

Consider these five steps to craft an owner-operator résumé that shows off your business and driving experiences.

A résumé is usually not required by motor carriers for owner-operator leasing opportunities. Most carriers, including Schneider, only require interested owner-operators to complete an application.

How to write a résumé for owner-operator truck drivers

1. Include your contact information.

At the top of your résumé, create a header that lists your full name and contact information, including an email address and phone number. You’ll also want to include the geographic location where your business operates.

Formatting tip: Put your name in a larger, bold font to make it stand out. Add your contact information and business location under your name.

2. Create a professional summary.

Add a short professional summary at the top of your résumé to help you stand out from other applicants. Describe:

Your business experience.
Your truck driving experience.
Your motor vehicle record.

If you’re a new owner-operator, you might not have business experience to show yet. That's OK! Instead, call out:

The name of your business.
When you started your business.
What opportunities you’re looking for.

Formatting tip: Your professional summary should be two or three sentences long. It should be tailored to the specific opportunity you apply for.

3. Highlight your license and endorsements.

Next, list what Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) classification you hold – A, B or C.

If you have any endorsements, you can also list them under this section. Endorsements may include:

(H) Hazardous materials endorsement.
(X) Tanker/HazMat combination endorsement.
(T) Doubles/triples endorsement.

Formatting tip: Use bullet points to make this section easier to read. You can place your license/endorsement section right under your professional summary or in a separate section on the side of your résumé.

4. Describe your business and driving experience.

As an experienced owner-operator

If you’re an experienced owner-operator, start by writing out your business experience. You should include:

Your job title (owner-operator).
The name of your business.
The dates (month and year) your business has been running.
Your job responsibilities.
If you did business with a motor carrier (include the company’s name) or operated under your own authority.
Your achievements.

If you’ve leased on with more than one motor carrier, you should list each one as its own experience.

Next, list any experience you had as a company truck driver. Start with your most recent driving job, and then work your way background. Each role you list should include:

Your job title.
The name of the company you drove for.
The dates (month and year) you were employed at the company.
Your job responsibilities.
Your achievements (such as how many safe miles you drove).

As an inexperienced owner-operator

If you do not have business experience to highlight, start by listing your company truck driver experience.

Detail your most recent driving job first, and then work your way backwards. Each role you list should include:

Your job title.
The name of the company you drove for.
The dates (month and year) you were employed at the company.
Your job responsibilities.
Your achievements (such as how many safe miles you drove).

Formatting tip: Start each bullet point with an action verb. Use present tense for your current role and past tense for any previous work experience.

5. Write out your educational background.

At the end of your résumé – or in a separate section on the side – list your educational background. Start with the highest level of education you received and include:

The type of degree you received.
The name of the educational institution.
The years you attended the school.

Owner-operator résumé examples

Experienced owner-operator résumé

Ryan Powell

123-456-7890 | ryanpowell@hotmail.com | Houston, TX 77002

Professional summary

I am a HazMat certified tanker owner-operator with four years of experience running a trucking business. I have seven years of Class A CDL driving experience – half of which includes hauling hazardous materials – and an accident-free motor vehicle record.

License and endorsements

Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
(X) Tanker/HazMat combination endorsement.
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card.

Experience

Tanker owner-operator | XYZ Trucking Business | May 2020-Present

Hauls tanker trailers while operating under my own authority.
Works with freight brokers to find loads, negotiate rates and deliver freight on time.
Loads and unloads freight manually.
Operates and maintains truck according to FMCSA guidelines.
Conducts pre-trip and post-trip inspections.
Manages business filings, paperwork and scheduling.

Over-the-road truck driver | XYZ Company | June 2017-April 2020

Hauled dry van freight within the southern United States.
Drove 500,000 safe miles, maintaining an accident-free driving record.
Conducted pre-trip and post-trip inspections and trip planned.
Maintained hours of service (HOS) using an electronic logging device (ELD).
Followed company and FMCSA safety regulations.

Education

High school diploma, ABC High School, 2013-2017.
ABC Truck Driving School, 2017.

Inexperienced owner-operator résumé

Taylor Owens

123-456-7890 | taylorowens@gmail.com | Phoenix, AZ 85004

Professional summary

I am an owner-operator with two years of Class A CDL driving experience and a clean motor vehicle record. I started my trucking business, XYZ Logistics, in 2024 and am seeking dry van lease opportunities with a stable motor carrier.

License

Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).