Garbage Truck Driver Resume: Writing Guide and Examples

A garbage truck driver resume is a professional document that outlines your driving credentials, work history, and relevant skills in the field. It’s your chance to show employers that you’re dependable, safety-conscious, and experienced in operating heavy vehicles under varying conditions.

Because garbage collection is physically demanding and time-sensitive, hiring managers look for candidates who demonstrate not just a clean driving record but also the ability to follow routes efficiently, maintain equipment, and communicate well with dispatchers and the public. Therefore, a well-written resume helps you stand out in a competitive job market by clearly presenting your qualifications.

This article will walk you through the essentials of creating a strong garbage truck driver resume. You’ll learn how to structure each section, what key skills and certifications to include, and how to tailor your experience to match employer expectations.

What Does a Garbage Truck Driver Do?

Garbage truck drivers operate specialized commercial vehicles to collect waste from residential neighborhoods, commercial properties, and industrial facilities.

This job is more complex than it might seem from the outside. On any given day, they maneuver a rear-loader, front-loader, or side-loader truck through residential streets or navigate commercial areas. They also:

• Conduct pre-trip inspections (checking hydraulic systems, brakes, lights, and fluid levels)
• Operate compactor controls, managing traffic flow, and maintaining awareness of pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles
• Document collection activities and note any issues with access or overweight containers
• Occasionally handle customer questions or concerns

These positions exist across municipal sanitation departments, private waste management companies like Waste Management or Republic Services, and specialized recycling facilities. As per the data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for truck drivers is $57,440.

The role requires a CDL Class B license at a minimum, a clean driving record, and the physical ability to handle demanding work conditions. Most companies also expect you to maintain DOT compliance, pass regular drug screenings, and demonstrate consistent reliability.

How to Write a Garbage Truck Driver Resume: Essential Sections Explained

Here are the key sections every garbage truck driver resume should contain and how to write them:

#1. Contact Information

Your contact information sits at the top of your resume and includes your full name, job title, mobile phone number, a professional email address, and your city and state. You don't need your full street address anymore; city and state give employers enough information about your location without raising privacy concerns.

Additionally, including a CDL license number right in your contact section can be valuable in a waste management driver resume, as it immediately signals that they’re licensed and makes it easy for hiring managers to reference. Some drivers include their LinkedIn profile if they maintain a professional presence there, but it's not necessary for most waste management positions.

That being said, you should avoid mentioning your age, marital status, and Social Security number or adding a photo.

Here’s an example of a good contact information section:

#2. Resume Summary or Objective

Right below your contact information, you need either a resume summary or a resume objective. The former works for experienced drivers who can point to years of proven performance. Meanwhile, the latter works better for newly certified drivers or those transitioning from other commercial driving roles.

Your resume summary should be a tight 3-4 sentence paragraph that hits your main selling points and acts as your elevator pitch. You can lead with your years of experience and CDL classification, mention the types of vehicles you've operated, highlight your safety record (this is crucial), and note any standout achievements or specialized certifications.

Let’s see what it should look like:

For entry-level drivers, a resume objective shifts focus to your training, transferable skills, and enthusiasm for the field, like this.

#3. Work Experience

Your work experience section should follow the reverse-chronological format, meaning your most recent job appears first. For each position, include your job title, company name, location (city and state), and dates of employment, and then use 4-6 bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements.

You should start each bullet point with a strong action verb and include quantifiable achievements whenever possible. Numbers make your accomplishments concrete and memorable.

Furthermore, include relevant positions from the past 10-15 years. If you’re a career changer or have limited garbage truck experience, focus on transferable skills from delivery driving, construction equipment operation, or other abilities you would mention in a commercial driver resume, too.

This is how a good work experience section should be written:

#4. Skills Section

A dedicated skills section helps both ATS systems and human reviewers quickly assess your qualifications. Organize your skills into technical (hard) and soft skills, selecting 10-15 that are most relevant to garbage truck driving and match the job description you're targeting.

The following table shows both some technical and soft skills you can mention:

#5. Education and Certifications

While education requirements for garbage truck drivers are minimal, certifications are absolutely critical, and this section should clearly display both.

For most positions, a high school diploma or GED will suffice; you can format this information in the following way:

If you completed any commercial driving school training beyond CDL testing, include that as well:

When it comes to certifications, you should state their full names, issuing organizations, and expiration dates; keeping them current shows professionalism and planning skills, too. You can do it in the following way.

Never list expired certifications unless you're currently in the renewal process (in which case, note "renewal pending").

#6. Additional Sections (Optional)

Including optional sections can strengthen your application when you have relevant achievements to showcase—but only add these if they genuinely add value. For example, you can mention:

Professional Affiliations

These include union memberships or industry associations that demonstrate commitment. Let’s see what this might look like:

Languages

If you speak any foreign languages, you should definitely mention them, as they are genuinely valuable in diverse communities. Here’s how you can do it:

Awards and Recognition

This section can include specific industry-specific honors you’re proud of and that are worth mentioning. Here’s an example:

Garbage Truck Driver Resume Examples

Let's look at complete resume examples for both garbage truck drivers with or without experience to see how these elements come together effectively.

Experienced Garbage Truck Driver Resume Example

Entry-Level Garbage Truck Driver Resume

6 Powerful Tips on How to Write a Garbage Truck Driver Resume

Now that you've seen what effective resumes look like, let's walk through the specific strategies that make them work.

#1. Choose the Right Resume Format

The reverse-chronological format should be your default choice for trash truck operator resumes, as employers in waste management want to see a consistent work history that demonstrates reliability. This resume format lists your most recent position first and works backward chronologically; it's straightforward, familiar to hiring managers, and—critically—ATS-friendly.

However, if you're changing careers from a non-driving field but have recently earned your CDL, a functional format emphasizing skills over chronological work history might help. Similarly, if you have employment gaps due to illness, family care, or other circumstances, a combination format can emphasize your qualifications while downplaying timeline gaps.

#2. Tailor Your Resume to Each Job Application

A municipal driver resume won’t be the same as those for private sector or specialized waste management positions. These employers have different priorities and organizational cultures, and your resume should reflect that understanding.

Read each job description carefully and identify the specific keywords and priorities. If a municipal posting emphasizes "community engagement" and "consistent service," highlight your customer interactions and reliability. Meanwhile, if a private company mentions "efficiency metrics" and "route optimization," emphasize your quantifiable productivity achievements.

#3. Quantify Your Achievements

Numbers transform vague claims into credible accomplishments. Compare these two approaches:

Weak: "Responsible for completing daily collection routes efficiently and safely"

Strong: "Completed 45-mile residential route daily serving 500+ households, achieving 99% on-time performance while maintaining accident-free record over 3 years"

The second version gives hiring managers concrete information they can evaluate. It shows the scale of your responsibility (500+ households), your reliability (99% on-time), and your safety record (accident-free for 3 years). These specifics make you memorable and credible.

#4. Highlight Safety and Compliance

Waste management companies face significant liability risks, insurance costs, and regulatory scrutiny. That's why your safety record should be prominent throughout your resume.

Be honest about your record, as employers will check your driving history through the Department of Motor Vehicles and conduct background checks. If you have violations or incidents in your past, don't hide them—but don't feature them on your resume either. If asked about them, acknowledge them briefly, explain what you learned, and emphasize your clean record since.

#5. Use Action Verbs and Industry Keywords

The language you use matters for two audiences: ATS systems screening for keywords and human hiring managers evaluating your experience. Strong action verbs make your accomplishments more dynamic and credible, while industry-specific keywords demonstrate your understanding of the field.

Incorporate these naturally throughout your resume—in your summary, work experience bullet points, and skills section. Don't just list keywords in isolation; use them in context that demonstrates your actual experience.

#6. Keep It Concise and Well-Formatted

Length and formatting directly impact whether your resume gets read. Hiring managers spend no more than a few seconds on an initial resume scan; if yours is cluttered, poorly formatted, or unnecessarily long, it won't get that critical deeper look.

Here are some essential guidelines you should follow when it comes to formatting, length, and layout:

• Your resume should be one page long if you’re a driver with less than 10 years of experience, or one to two pages if you have 10-15 years of experience.
• Never sacrifice readability to force everything onto one page. If you're at 10 months of experience and genuinely have relevant, valuable information, a well-organized two-page resume beats a cramped one-page version.
• Use professional, readable fonts—Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, or Times New Roman in 10-12 point for body text.
• Make section headings slightly larger (12-14 point) and bold for a clear visual hierarchy.
• Keep margins between 0.5 and 1 inch—adequate white space improves readability.
• Use consistent line spacing (1.0 or 1.15) and add space between sections.
• Use simple round or square bullets, not decorative symbols that confuse ATS.
• Stick to left-aligned text for easy scanning.
• Avoid colored text, backgrounds, or design elements—black text on a white background works best for ATS compatibility.

8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making a Garbage Truck Driver Resume

Finally, here are the eight most common mistakes you can make when making a garbage truck driver resume:

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Final Thoughts

Creating an effective garbage truck driver resume comes down to showcasing what waste management employers care about most: your CDL credentials and certifications, safety record and reliability, and your ability to complete routes efficiently while maintaining quality service.

The industry offers stable careers with good benefits, opportunities for advancement, and the satisfaction of doing essential community work. With qualified commercial drivers in demand nationwide, presenting yourself professionally through a well-crafted resume positions you to take advantage of excellent opportunities.

Garbage Truck Driver Resume FAQ

#1. What should I put on my resume if I'm a new CDL driver with no garbage truck experience?

If you’re a new CDL driver with no garbage truck experience, you should focus on your recent CDL training and any commercial driving experience you have, even if it's in different sectors like delivery, bus driving, or trucking. You can also emphasize your clean driving record prominently and include relevant labor or physical work that demonstrates stamina and reliability.

#2. How long should a garbage truck driver resume be?

Your garbage truck driver resume should be one page long if you have less than 10 years of experience in waste management or commercial driving. You can extend to two pages if you have extensive experience, multiple specialized certifications, significant safety achievements, or diverse commercial driving backgrounds that are all relevant.

#3. Should I include my driving violations or accidents on my resume?

No, you shouldn’t voluntarily list violations, accidents, or infractions on your resume. However, if an application specifically asks about these, you must answer honestly—lying on applications can result in immediate disqualification or termination if discovered.

#4. How do I explain employment gaps on my garbage truck driver resume?

You should explain employment gaps on your garbage truck driver resume briefly and positively, by specifying the gap period and stating the reason in a few words. Focus on what you learned or how you maintained relevant skills during the time away, as this will show the potential employer you remained active and interested in learning.

#5. What's the best resume format for garbage truck drivers?

The reverse-chronological format is best for garbage truck driver resumes. This format lists your most recent position first and works backward chronologically, clearly showing your work history progression, consistent employment, and career development.

#6. Should I include a photo on my garbage truck driver resume?

No, you shouldn’t include a photo on your garbage truck driver resume if you're applying in the United States. Photos aren't standard practice for American resumes and can create concerns about discrimination or bias for employers. Hiring decisions should be based on qualifications, experience, and skills—not appearance.