Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between cdl drivers and tow truck drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a cdl driver and a tow truck driver. Additionally, a cdl driver has an average salary of $63,112, which is higher than the $38,555 average annual salary of a tow truck driver.
The top three skills for a cdl driver include DOT, CDL-A and customer service. The most important skills for a tow truck driver are transport vehicles, CDL, and customer service.
| CDL Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $63,112 | $38,555 |
| Hourly rate | $30.34 | $18.54 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 784,044 | 666,918 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.
Typically working upon the directives of dispatchers, a tow truck driver is in charge of driving to areas where a vehicle accident or breakdown took place, connecting the vehicle to the tow truck, and transporting them to repair stations or particular places. Their responsibilities include communicating with clients to identify their needs, answering inquiries, providing assistance by performing minor repairs, changing tires or jump-starting cars, and recommending solutions when necessary. Furthermore, as a tow truck driver, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks on towing trucks for a safe and efficient service.
Cdl drivers and tow truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| CDL Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $63,112 | $38,555 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $96,000 | Between $29,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Washington |
| Best paying company | GCP Applied Technologies | City of Detroit |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a cdl driver and a tow truck driver in terms of educational background:
| CDL Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cdl drivers' and tow truck drivers' demographics:
| CDL Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 3.9% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |