Train Driver Resume Examples

In the USA only, a train transportation company owns on average 10,000 locomotives. While hundreds of train operator jobs are opening up every day, very few openings are for well-paid ones.

If these are the types of jobs you’re targeting, a well-written resume together with a cover letter will come in handy.

See whether this article is the one you were looking for before going further. We cover:👇

• Train driver resume for an experienced driver
• Train driver resume for an entry-level driver
• Choosing the right resume layout and structure
• A writing guide for each section and plenty of examples
• Do’s and Don’ts in writing your train operator resume
• Pro tips to boost your resume

Were you not looking for a train driver resume? Consider these driver resume examples:

• Delivery driver resume
• Bus driver
• Resume for logistics
• Truck driver
• Uber driver

If you are looking to download train driver resume templates or to create your resume faster, check out our ready-to-fill resume templates.

Salary & Benefits for Train Operators

A train operator in the US earns an average salary of $47,000/year 💰 (Comparably.com).

That is not the best thing: train operator salary varies from $10,000 to $240,000. That’s insane, right?

Can you imagine how the right train driving job could change your whole life?

In this article, we'll show you how to write a resume that gets you your dream job as a train driver.

The highest-paid jobs are for the highest performers: on the job, in the interview, and in writing the resume.

How to Write a Train Driver Resume?

Writing a train driver resume is no different than writing any other resume with a couple of exceptions. We will start with the general guidelines:

Single Page Standard

Luckily, you don’t have to write a 5-page resume to convince your hiring manager anymore. Single-page resumes are the standard for many industries. In fact, hiring managers do not have time to read long resumes.

Although it sounds simple, writing a one-page resume comes with its own challenges. You have to choose the most relevant detail to include in your resume. If you’re an experienced train driver, this could be a tough job.

Keywords

Your resume writing involves finding the right keywords the employer is seeking. Why is this important?

Most railway companies have 10,000 to as high as 50,000 employees. With existing employees leaving and new positions opening up, they get thousands of applications every day.

Hiring managers typically don’t read all of them; it's a lot of work. They employ an applicant tracking system to shortlist the relevant applications only. This system works based on the keywords relevant to each job position.

Read the job description carefully and note down the important words, skills, certifications they have mentioned in the advertisement.

Layout and the Format

Writing a train driver resume is no different than driving a train through Coast Starlight from California to Washington: you should have a plan in both cases.

You should know all 28 stops in the route, when and where to refuel, how long to stay in each halt, etc.

Similarly, when writing the resume, you should know what headings and subheadings you’re writing, what information goes into the resume, and in what order.

The layout for the resume

In this, you should answer “what to write?”. Mainly the headings, subheadings, and their order.

A clear layout will make your resume writing much easier.

We recommend the following for a train driver resume:

• Name and contact details
• Professional summary
• Employment history
• Education
• Skills
• Additional sections

Best resume format

In this, you should answer “How to write?”. To be specific, format answers how to write the experience section in your resume: the most important section of your train driver resume.

We have listed the three commonly used resume formats:

• Functional (skills-based): places emphasis on skills, rather than the order in which they were acquired.
• Reverse Chronological (traditional): prioritize your experiences based on when you acquired them.
• Hybrid (combination resume): an integration of the above two.

Train drivers should use the reverse chronological resume format. Your employer is mostly interested in your recent experience. The reverse-chronological format puts that information on top.

General formatting

Consider the following bullet points:

• Send your resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format
• Keep consistent margins
• Type in readable fonts

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of Microsoft Office formatting, consider checking out our resume builder for the best-selling resume templates that are widely used by drivers of all kinds to land their dream jobs. It will only take 10 minutes to create your professional resume there.

Your Train Driver Resume Starts with The Header

Your train driver resume should start with the header: consists of your name and the contact details.

Make sure you include only the relevant information in your header. Otherwise, it will be the first and the last section the hiring manager reads before it goes to the trash.

Examples

Good headers have the following features:

• Start with the name
• Use a professional and easy-to-type email address
• Include your mobile number
• Do not include your full mailing address

Demonstrate Your Train Driving Experience

The experience section is hands down the most important section of any resume. This section is the biggest contributor to the success or the failure of your resume.

Writing the experience section for a train driver is a tricky job. Every train driver with a valid license has the basic skills required to take a train from one station to another.

How to make your experience section stand out from the rest?

Most candidates write the experience section to explain what they did in the previous job. Here’s what you should do👇.

• Describe your achievements, awards, or recognition (if any) from your previous job
• Make sure each point you write demonstrates a specific skill(s), the hiring manager is looking for
• Be specific as much as possible. Use numbers to add credibility to your statements

Remember we have already decided to use the reverse chronological format for our experience section. Start with your current job or the most recent one.

In the following examples, we explain how to write a professional experience section as an experienced train driver and as an entry-level train driver. Find out what makes a great experience section different from a typical one.

Work Experience Example for an Experienced Train Driver

Work Experience Example for an Entry-Level Train Driver

Include Your Education

There’s no particular formal education requirement to enter a train driver position. However, most locomotive companies expect the drivers to have a minimum high school diploma or equivalent.

When writing your education section, start with the highest education qualification you’ve achieved. Also, use a consistent format to state each education qualification.

Example education section of a train operator resume

Education

Train Driver Skills for a Professional Resume

The skills section is mostly overlooked by many candidates while writing their resumes. That doesn't mean they don't write it: they just do it wrong.

95% of the resumes come with a set of general skills listed in this section. These general skills are hard to measure and have no credibility. So anyone can list them.

To reach the top 5% of the resumes, you should write a relevant, specific, keyword-heavy set of skills.

There are two types of skills: soft skills and hard skills. Soft skills are less measurable. We call them generic skills.

Hard skills are job-specific. Easily measurable with your certificates or with an exam.

Soft skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to details
• Willingness to take on a challenging environment
• Extensive endurance
• Problem-solving skills
• Managing time efficiently
• Competency in leadership
• Team player
• Interpersonal skills
• Readiness to face unusual occurrences

Hard skills

• Signal instructions knowledge
• Visual inspection for maintenance requirements
• Knowledge of designated routes
• Understanding of the safety regulations

Professional Summary for Train Drivers

The professional summary is your sales pitch in the resume. Use it to summarize your achievements, experience, and expertise in a couple of sentences.

It gives an overview of the candidate to the HR manager. The importance here is that the right summary will hook the recruiter to read the rest of your resume.

It can be a tedious task to write a professional summary: especially if you’re not a professional writer. These examples will help you to write your professional summary 10 times better than most other candidates; without the assistance of a resume writer.

How to Write the Professional Summary

A quality professional summary is short and to the point. It consists of about two sentences. The first sentence should speak about your experience, expertise, and how you’ll be a great asset to the new employer.

The second sentence should speak about how you were a great employee in your current or previous job.

Add numbers wherever possible. Numbers grab the attention of the reader and add credibility.

Professional Objective for Train Drivers

The professional objective is no different than a professional summary except it’s used to describe a candidate’s enthusiasm towards a job.

Professional objectives are typically used by candidates with a lower level of experience and those who are in career transitions.

Additional Sections for Your Train Driver Resume

Use additional sections to give a pleasant surprise to your hiring manager. Additional sections are also used to highlight important details in your resume: unique skills and certifications.

Under additional sections, you can state many subheadings such as computer skills, trade certifications, language skills, interests, and awards. Choosing what to write will depend on your profile.

General rule: write only what is relevant in your resume. Ask “why should I include this information in my resume?” for each subheading and sentence.

Computing Skills & Certifications

Modern-day train drivers get to deal with many software and systems for various purposes. Computer systems and telecommunications systems are most frequent.

Though different employers have different computer systems, they all work on the same principles. Explain how you used them and for what purposes.

Also, having a basic understanding of Microsoft Office will be useful as a train driver, since you might have to update Excel sheets and write required reports.

Languages

If you are fluent in a couple of languages, you can state it with the proficiency level. If the job you apply for involves traveling to other states or dealing with clients, language proficiency will come in handy.

Training

If you have undergone any job-related training at your current or previous employment, you should state them here. Most train driving jobs start with extensive training of at least 3 months.

Boost Your Train Driver Resume with these Pro Tips

If you followed this article, your resume should already be among the top 5% of the resumes your recruiter receives. Using these pro tips, get your resume to the top 1% so that you can get an interview for every resume you send.

• If you haven’t completed the required engineers training for the maintenance of locomotives, consider starting the course
• Get your numerical achievements from the performance team at your current employer. Many performance evaluation teams have years of data.
• Use a spellchecker to proofread your resume (we have one on our resume builder)

Key Points: Write a Perfect Train Driver Resume

• A resume should begin with your name and contact information
• Write a professional summary or an objective summary. In two sentences, summarize your skills, experience, and expertise
• Use reverse chronological order to list your experience. Be specific. Use numbers
• Briefly describe your basic education and the learning outcomes related to the job
• Write both soft and hard skills in your skills section. Be specific and relevant
• Include certifications, interests, and languages in separate sections to give the hiring manager a pleasant surprise

Back up Your Resume with a Cover Letter

A cover letter is a great addition to send together with your resume. Most recruiters will read the cover letters of the shortlisted candidates before inviting them for an interview.

Your cover letter is your sales pitch. Make it short and to the point as recruiters do not have time to read long letters. A half-page with three paragraphs would be enough.

In the first paragraph, describe why you will be a great fit for the role and how you can solve the problems of your employer.

In the second paragraph, explain how you solved those problems in your current job or for the previous employer. For example, a train driver needs to be someone with a high level of attention to detail: reflect such important skills from your experience.

In the third paragraph, state your interest and enthusiasm to join the new employer. You should end your paragraph with a call to action: ideally, say that you're looking forward to meeting in an interview.

Check out these cover letter examples when writing your next train driver cover letter.

FAQs from Train Drivers

Why do train drivers earn high salaries?

Train drivers go through a series of training and medical tests to be eligible to drive a locomotive.

Train drivers usually face high levels of stress since many people rely on them. Trains are a major part of public transportation in the US and many other countries around the world.

Train drivers must adhere to the highest safety standards and protocols. Time management must also be taken seriously. Providing a timely service is one of their main KPIs, but it's not always easy with breakdowns, weather, and track conditions.

These challenges are compensated with high salaries and other employment benefits.

What are the companies hiring train drivers?

Union Pacific Railroad ranks as the number one railway company in the United States.

There are about 700 railway companies operating in the country. Following are the top employers:

• BNSF Railway
• Amtrak
• Canadian National Railway
• CSX Transportation
• Norfolk Southern Railway

Check Out the Best Templates for Train Drivers