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The differences between flatbed truck 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 flatbed truck driver and a tow truck driver. Additionally, a flatbed truck driver has an average salary of $61,065, which is higher than the $38,555 average annual salary of a tow truck driver.
The top three skills for a flatbed truck driver include CDL, flatbed and OTR. The most important skills for a tow truck driver are transport vehicles, CDL, and customer service.
A flatbed truck driver is primarily responsible for the transport and delivery of goods, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their duties mainly revolve around coordinating with logistics staff, planning deliveries, managing paperwork, responding to calls and inquiries from clients, and maintaining their vehicles in good condition by regularly conducting maintenance checks. There are are also instances when a driver must collect and process payments, making sure to keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, it is essential to load and unload goods to the location of deliveries and abide by all the traffic laws and regulations.
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.
Flatbed truck drivers and tow truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $61,065 | $38,555 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $91,000 | Between $29,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dover, NH | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | Montana | Washington |
| Best paying company | Jordan Company | City of Detroit |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a flatbed truck driver and a tow truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed truck drivers' and tow truck drivers' demographics:
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.2% 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% |