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The differences between heavy 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 heavy truck driver and a tow truck driver. Additionally, a heavy truck driver has an average salary of $54,369, which is higher than the $38,555 average annual salary of a tow truck driver.
The top three skills for a heavy truck driver include CDL, safety rules and hazmat. The most important skills for a tow truck driver are transport vehicles, CDL, and customer service.
A heavy truck driver delivers goods and other heavy loads for clients. They transport these goods within a designated route from the manufacturing warehouse to designated store locations. In addition to driving, they determine if their truck complies with the weight or height restrictions on certain bridges and tunnels and modifies routes as necessary.
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.
Heavy truck drivers and tow truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Truck Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $54,369 | $38,555 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $29,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | B & B Co. | City of Detroit |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a heavy truck driver and a tow truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Heavy 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 heavy truck drivers' and tow truck drivers' demographics:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 57.1% 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% |