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It used to be that the only types of job-seekers requiring a résumé were corporate head-honchos and office pool workers. These days, though, it seems you cannot get your foot in the door at any type of job without submitting a résumé - typically over the Internet. To make a positive impression when submitting a résumé for a truck driving job, there are several types of information you should be sure to include and others you can leave by the wayside.

Before you even get started setting up your résumé, there are a couple of steps that you should definitely consider taking. One item that is worth checking is your DAC report. A DAC report - which stands for Drivers Abstract Compilation - provides trucking companies the employment history of a potential new employee. HireRight (a subsidiary of USIS), the company that provides DAC reports, gathers this information using historical employment records from more than 2,500 motor carriers. The report also includes your driving and criminal history. It is important to note that if you ever agree to orientation with a trucking company, this company may show up in your employment history even if you changed your mind and went elsewhere. Since most companies will compare your résumé to your DAC, you should match them up yourself to make sure everything jibes.

Drivers can request one free DAC report every 12 months by phone or by mail; call 800.381.0645 for information. Once you have received and gone over your DAC report, you can file a dispute if you find any inaccuracies and HireRight will perform an investigation of the information at no cost to you. This process can take up to thirty days, but it can mean the difference between quickly landing the job you want and pounding the pavement.

Next, head down to your local Department of Motor Vehicles and request a copy of your Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) for at least the past 36 months. It might seem redundant since your DAC includes your driving record, but it is better to be safe than sorry. An MVR is not typically free, but should only put you out a few dollars and may save you time and frustration in the end. Check your record over thoroughly for any discrepancies. Unfortunately, mistakes are not unheard of. For example, a driver I know went in for a copy of his MVR only to learn his license was suspended. He had paid a fine for a moving violation months prior, but the payment had not been recorded correctly. While he did have to squander a day waiting at the courthouse proving he had paid and having the suspension quashed, having a potential employer run his license to find it suspended would have been worse.

Once you have gathered all of this information and corrected any errors, you can begin creating your résumé. Start with a résumé objective and summary statement. Your résumé objective should emphasize your talents and experience and describe the specific type of driving job you desire. The résumé objective should only be a sentence or two; for example, "To utilize my excellent driving skills and safety record to benefit a local aggregate company" concisely states a driver's abilities and the desired position.

The summary should include measurable achievements that will help to convince a trucking company to consider you as an employee. For example, "Experienced cross-country flatbed driver who has driven over one million accident-free miles" might sum up your career in a way that will catch a trucking company's attention.

Since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires truck drivers to provide their employment history information for 10 years prior to the application date, it will serve you well to create a résumé in chronological order showing your employment for the last ten years. Begin with your current or most recent employer and work your way back, providing the name of each company, the type of business, and a brief description of your responsibilities for each position. This is true even if there are non-driving jobs in your history. Be sure to include any periods of unemployment as well, as trucking companies will request this information.

As you close your truck driving résumé, be sure to include other pertinent details that companies need to know. For example, if you have a DUI on your record then you must disclose this fact. You should divulge misdemeanors you've incurred within the last five years and felonies within the previous 10 years, as well. This does not necessarily exclude you for a truck driving position; however, the trucking companies to which you apply will discover such information in your DAC report. It will likely work in your favor if you are upfront and honest.

That does not mean you should only include negative information on your résumé. Include career-specific achievements, honors, or trainings you have received such as safety awards or advanced training. List all endorsements you carry and note other equipment with which you are experienced, such as forklifts or pallet jacks. If you have certification in other equipment, be sure to mention that, too.

By doing your research, putting your best foot forward, and being forthright, you will have taken the most important steps towards creating a résumé that may just be your ticket to the driving job of your dreams.