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The differences between commercial 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 commercial driver and a tow truck driver. Additionally, a commercial driver has an average salary of $46,852, which is higher than the $38,555 average annual salary of a tow truck driver.
The top three skills for a commercial driver include customer service, CDL and ladders. The most important skills for a tow truck driver are transport vehicles, CDL, and customer service.
| Commercial Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $46,852 | $38,555 |
| Hourly rate | $22.52 | $18.54 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,016,123 | 666,918 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A commercial driver is responsible for transporting people, goods, and services from one place to various destinations as required. Commercial drivers must have a clean driving record to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the merchandise's quality while on the road. They should also know how to operate a vehicle's engine, inspect system defects, and repair system malfunctions to prevent any delays in transportation and deliveries. A commercial driver must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and report any problems to management.
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.
Commercial drivers and tow truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $46,852 | $38,555 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $29,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Laramie County Community College | City of Detroit |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a commercial driver and a tow truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial drivers' and tow truck drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 55.6% 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% |