Vacuum Truck Driver Resume Guide

Vacuum truck drivers operate large vehicles equipped with tanks and pumps to collect, transport, and dispose of hazardous materials. They drive the trucks to different sites to pick up liquid or solid waste material, then transport it safely for proper disposal.

You’re a master at maneuvering vacuum trucks, and you have a knack for getting the job done in record time. But your potential employers don’t know how experienced you are yet – to show them what you can do, compose an impressive resume that will make them take notice.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.

The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.

Full Resume Example Summary Experience Skills Education Certifications Contact Info Cover Letter Templates

Vacuum Truck Driver Resume Sample

Michel Schultz
Vacuum Truck Driver

[email protected]
634-245-7278
linkedin.com/in/michel-schultz

Summary

Well-rounded vacuum truck driver with five years of experience operating and maintaining vacuum trucks for residential, commercial, and industrial sites. At ABC Vacuum Truck Services, successfully completed over 200 jobs without any incidents or accidents. Received a perfect attendance award in 2019 by completing all scheduled routes on time. Committed to providing an exemplary customer service experience while delivering safe operations at all times.

Experience

Vacuum Truck Driver, Employer A
Escondido, Jan 2018 – Present

Independently operated vacuum truck to transport hazardous and non-hazardous materials from 3+ sites weekly, ensuring safe delivery of goods within designated time frames.
Reduced transportation costs by 15% through efficient route planning and coordination with the dispatcher for optimum scheduling of trips & pickups.
Delivered over 500 loads in the past year with zero incidents; maintained a clean driving record throughout service duration.
Developed comprehensive safety protocols for loading/unloading cargo at various locations; trained 5 new hires on proper use of machinery and equipment according to company standards.
Cleaned out tanks, pipes, filters and other components as part of regular maintenance duties while adhering to all environmental regulations related to oilfield operations & waste disposal practices.

Vacuum Truck Driver, Employer B
Irvine, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017

Streamlined delivery routes to reduce fuel costs by 15%, ultimately increasing overall efficiency of deliveries.
Introduced new safety protocols that ensured all personnel followed proper procedures when operating vacuum truck vehicles; reduced incidents by 10%.
Prepared and maintained daily logs for the tracking of shipments, inventory, maintenance records and other related documents regarding the operation of trucks; increased accuracy in record-keeping by 20%.
Consistently met tight deadlines while delivering goods on time with an impeccable track record; completed over 150 trips in a year without any major delays or mishaps.
Revised operational processes which resulted in greater cost savings through improved usage of resources like manpower, equipment and transportation expenses – saved up to $15,000 annually.”

Skills

CDL License
Knowledge of Local Roads and Traffic Laws
Ability to Operate a Vacuum Truck
Ability to Work in Confined Spaces
Ability to Lift and Carry Heavy Objects
Ability to Read and Interpret Safety Instructions
Ability to Communicate Effectively
Knowledge of Safety Protocols
Ability to Troubleshoot and Repair Mechanical Problems

Education

Commercial Driver’s License
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

Certifications

Hazmat Endorsement
Department of Transportation
May 2017

1. Summary / Objective

A resume summary for a vacuum truck driver should highlight your experience, safety record and customer service skills. Start by mentioning the number of years you have been driving professionally and any special certifications or licenses that make you qualified for the job. Then, emphasize how many miles you’ve driven without incident as well as any awards or recognition from customers for outstanding service. Finally, mention your ability to work in all weather conditions and adhere to strict safety standards while on the road.

Below are some resume summary examples:

Detail-oriented vacuum truck driver with 8+ years of experience in the transportation industry. Proven track record for safely driving vacuum trucks over long distances, loading and unloading cargo, and maintaining accurate records. Demonstrated ability to quickly adapt to changing schedules and routes due to customer needs or traffic conditions. Received multiple awards from ABC Company for outstanding performance on the job.

Professional vacuum truck driver with 15+ years of experience safely operating specialized vehicles and equipment. Highly knowledgeable in HAZMAT regulations, as well as a variety of waste management procedures. Proven track record for completing jobs on-time and meeting all safety requirements. Seeking to join ABC Vacuum Services to continue providing top-notch service while following safe driving practices.

Passionate and reliable vacuum truck driver with 9+ years of experience in the oil and gas industry, seeking a permanent position at XYZ. Highlights from my career include completing 10 long-haul trips per month on time and without incident. I am committed to safety standards and regulations, as well as providing superior customer service. Looking forward to bringing my expertise to your team!

Seasoned vacuum truck driver with 7+ years of experience operating heavy-duty vehicles for hazardous waste removal. Proven record of meeting tight deadlines and providing efficient services to clients in the oil, gas, and mining industries. Skilled at performing pre-trip inspections on all trucks under their care; always ensures safety protocols are followed when handling dangerous materials.

Skilled vacuum truck driver with 7+ years of experience in waste removal, servicing and maintenance. Proven ability to drive dual-axle vacuum trucks while adhering to all safety regulations. Experienced in operating manual/automatic transmission vehicles with air brakes over long distances. At XYZ, maintained a perfect record for on-time delivery and customer satisfaction ratings above 95%.

Hard-working vacuum truck driver with 8+ years of experience in the transportation industry. Demonstrated expertise in operating, servicing and maintaining vacuum trucks for a range of industrial projects. Looking to join ABC Company as a Vacuum Truck Driver where I can utilize my knowledge and skills to ensure safe operation while providing excellent customer service.

Proficient vacuum truck driver with 10+ years of experience safely and efficiently operating heavy equipment. Seeking to apply expertise in hazardous material transport, high-pressure cleaning and confined space entry at ABC Company. At XYZ Services, increased performance metrics by 20% through the implementation of a new system for tracking waste disposal sites.

Talented vacuum truck driver with 6+ years of experience safely and efficiently operating a variety of vehicles. Skilled in navigating challenging terrain, meeting tight deadlines, and adhering to all safety protocols. Seeking to join ABC Services as a vacuum truck driver where I can utilize my expertise to provide flawless service for the company’s customers.

2. Experience / Employment

In the experience/employment/work history section, you should list your work history in reverse chronological order, with the most recent job listed first.

When writing this section, stick to bullet points primarily. Doing so allows the reader to take in what you have written quickly and easily. When providing detail on each role, explain what you did and any results achieved from that activity.

For example, instead of saying “Drove a vacuum truck,” you could say “Operated a vacuum truck for hazardous waste removal at various sites across the country; completed jobs within an average of 3 days.”

To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:

Operated
Inspected
Loaded
Unloaded
Monitored
Delivered
Transported
Troubleshot
Repaired
Replaced
Cleaned
Adjusted
Tested
Serviced

Other general verbs you can use are:

Achieved
Advised
Assessed
Compiled
Coordinated
Demonstrated
Developed
Expedited
Facilitated
Formulated
Improved
Introduced
Mentored
Optimized
Participated
Prepared
Presented
Reduced
Reorganized
Represented
Revised
Spearheaded
Streamlined
Structured
Utilized

Below are some example bullet points:

Reorganized the routing and scheduling of vacuum truck services, reducing delivery time by 10% and improving overall efficiency.
Spearheaded the implementation of a new GPS navigation system to track trucks in real-time, resulting in an 18% decrease in fuel costs over six months.
Improved waste collection efforts with superior driving techniques; successfully transported up to 20 tons of hazardous materials without incident each day for two years.
Accurately recorded all collected data from customers’ properties according to company protocol within 24 hours or less following service completion every shift worked.
Expedited deliveries for emergency situations such as gas line repairs or sewage backups, arriving onsite within 2 hours after notification on average 95% of the time during peak business periods.

Formulated efficient routes and schedules for weekly vacuum truck deliveries, reducing driving time by 25% and fuel costs by $1,500.
Mentored junior drivers on the safe operation of trucks carrying hazardous waste; improved safety standards among all staff members in 6 months.
Actively monitored cargo weight to ensure legal compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations at all times while planning loads accordingly.
Achieved 100% customer satisfaction scores upon delivery of goods within specified deadlines; successfully completed over 75 shipments per month without any delays or errors in paperwork/documentation handling processes.
Operated a fleet of 8+ vacuum trucks equipped with specialized tools such as suction pumps and hoses to pick up liquid waste from industrial sites across the state for disposal or recycling purposes.

Repaired and maintained vacuum truck systems, including pumps and hoses, ensuring that all safety protocols were strictly followed; reduced downtime by 45%.
Presented weekly reports to management on the number of trips completed and fuel consumption per load; identified potential areas for cost savings in a timely manner resulting in $3000 annual saving.
Competently operated industrial vacuum trucks with hoist capacities up to 15 tons over a distance of 500 miles daily; ensured efficient loading/unloading times at each job site without any accidents or damages reported.
Unloaded hazardous waste from work sites using advanced suction equipment while adhering to proper health & safety regulations; successfully removed toxins from 3 contaminated water tanks within deadline requirements set by clients.
Optimized route planning procedures based on customer preferences and traffic flow patterns, resulting in an increase of 30% efficiency rate compared to previous year’s performance numbers.

Monitored loading/unloading operations and fluid levels of vacuum truck tanks on 10+ job sites weekly, ensuring that all safety protocols were met to avoid accidents or damage.
Tested pressure gauges, hoses and other components for any mechanical faults before each shift; reduced incidents related to equipment malfunction by 30%.
Represented the company professionally at client meetings regarding project timelines, delivery schedules and hazardous waste management practices in order to secure future business opportunities.
Facilitated efficient transportation of liquid materials from oil rigs & refineries within a 200-mile radius in compliance with DOT regulations; delivered 20+ loads per week without incident or delay.
Effectively cleaned storage tanks & vessels measuring up to 5 feet deep while adhering strictly to prescribed OSHA standards; completed 6 cleaning jobs daily on average over an 8-hour shift period.

Participated in the transport of hazardous materials to and from drilling rigs, pipelines, refineries and other industrial sites with a vacuum truck over 2,500 miles per month; increased on-time delivery performance rate by 8%.
Transported up to 500 gallons of liquid waste in a single day while following all safety protocols; safely operated vehicle under extreme weather conditions for over 6 hours at a time.
Reliably completed maintenance tasks such as inspecting brakes & tires, checking engine oil levels, refueling engines and troubleshooting mechanical issues every 300 miles or so; reduced downtime incidents by 10%.
Assessed equipment performance before each job start through visual inspections and tests to ensure proper working condition prior to operation; decreased repair costs by $5K annually due diligence efforts.
Replaced worn out hoses/lines regularly according to company guidelines which prevented costly operational malfunctions in the long run while ensuring maximum efficiency during jobs assigned daily (+20%).

Serviced 3 vacuum truck fleets consisting of 12 vehicles, resulting in a 20% decrease in maintenance costs.
Loaded and unloaded up to 10 tonnes of material from the trucks per week while adhering to strict safety regulations at all times; completed tasks within 2 hours on average.
Demonstrated excellent knowledge when handling and operating complicated machinery, such as boom arms & pumps, ensuring that operations ran smoothly each time without any delays or accidents reported.
Inspected equipment regularly for defects or wear-and-tear before use and maintained detailed records of inspection results for future reference; reduced downtime by 30%.
Substantially improved customer satisfaction levels through timely deliveries with zero complaints registered over 3 months straight leading to an increase in repeat business orders by 40%.

Structured a 3-month safety training program for new vacuum truck drivers, resulting in a 15% reduction of onsite accidents.
Adjusted to rapidly changing conditions and executed safe operation of the vehicle in all weather & traffic conditions; drove over 1,000 miles per week without any accident or incident.
Utilized advanced GPS systems and mapping technology to create efficient routes for deliveries; increased delivery speed by 25%.
Resourcefully maintained the equipment and machinery used during operations, ensuring that it was always operational with minimal downtime due to maintenance issues; reduced repair costs by $500/week on average.
Coordinated closely with customers and management team throughout scheduled trips delivering necessary materials such as oil, gas etc.; completed 50+ successful deliveries within tight deadlines each month with 100% customer satisfaction rate.

Compiled and maintained detailed records of truck inspections and maintenance, including tracking fuel usage, oil levels and brake conditions on a monthly basis; identified potential mechanical issues before they occurred by 70%.
Troubleshot minor technical problems with the vacuum trucks to keep them running at peak efficiency; increased operation time per shift by 40% due to successful repair work.
Diligently followed safety protocols when transporting hazardous materials in order to ensure compliance with local regulations and avoid any environmental contamination incidents.
Advised customers on proper equipment use for various job sites; trained over 15 new operators each month, resulting in an improved customer satisfaction rate of 80%.

3. Skills

Skill requirements will differ from one employer to the next; this can easily be ascertained from the job posting. Organization A may require a driver to have experience with Class 8 trucks, while Organization B may require the candidate to be knowledgeable about hazardous material transportation.

It is important to tailor your skills section of your resume for each job you are applying for because many employers now use applicant tracking systems which scan resumes for certain keywords before passing them on to a human. This means that if you don’t include the required skills in this section, then it’s unlikely that your application will make it past the computer program and into human hands.

You should also elaborate on some of these key skills in other sections such as the summary or work history; this allows you to demonstrate how they can help benefit an employer.

Below is a list of common skills & terms:

Ability to Communicate Effectively
Ability to Lift and Carry Heavy Objects
Ability to Operate a Vacuum Truck
Ability to Read and Interpret Safety Instructions
Ability to Troubleshoot and Repair Mechanical Problems
Ability to Work in Confined Spaces
CDL License
Knowledge of Hazardous Materials Regulations
Knowledge of Local Roads and Traffic Laws
Knowledge of Safety Protocols

4. Education

Mentioning an education section on your resume will depend on how much work experience you have. If you are just starting out, include an education section below your resume objective. However, if you have extensive professional experience as a vacuum truck driver and want to showcase it, omitting the education section is fine.

If including an education section, try to mention courses that relate directly to the job of a vacuum truck driver such as safety training or hazardous material handling classes.

Commercial Driver’s License
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

5. Certifications

Certifications demonstrate to a potential employer that you have the necessary skills and knowledge required for the job. It also shows that you are committed to staying up-to-date with industry trends, as certifications usually require ongoing education or training.

Including any relevant certifications on your resume can help set you apart from other applicants who may not possess such qualifications. Make sure to list each certification clearly and provide details about where it was obtained and when it expires (if applicable).

Hazmat Endorsement
Department of Transportation
May 2017

6. Contact Info

Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.

You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.

Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Michel Schultz, this would be Michel-Schultz-resume.pdf or Michel-Schultz-resume.docx.

7. Cover Letter

A cover letter is a great way to show potential employers that you’re the right candidate for the job. It provides an opportunity for you to explain why your skills and experience make you suitable, as well as give recruiters better insight into who you are.

Cover letters usually consist of 2-4 paragraphs and should always be sent along with a resume when applying for jobs. Although they aren’t required in many cases, having one can help differentiate yourself from other applicants and demonstrate your commitment to getting hired.

Below is an example cover letter:

Dear Melisa,

I am interested in the vacuum truck driver position advertised on your website. I have two years of experience driving a vacuum truck and am confident that I can meet or exceed your expectations for this role.

In my current role as a vacuum truck driver for ABC Services, I safely operate a heavy-duty vehicle to collect and dispose of hazardous waste material. I have developed an excellent sense of route planning and time management, which has allowed me to complete my daily collections efficiently. My clean driving record is testament to my safe driving abilities, and I have never had an accident while operating a vacuum truck.

In addition to my hands-on experience, I also hold a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL). This license allows me to operate any size vehicle with ease, giving me the flexibility to fill in as needed on other routes when necessary.

If you are looking for an experienced and reliable vacuum truck driver who will always put safety first, then please do not hesitate to contact me at [your phone number] or [your email address]. Thank you for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Michel