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The differences between lead 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 lead driver and a tow truck driver. Additionally, a lead driver has an average salary of $43,769, which is higher than the $38,555 average annual salary of a tow truck driver.
The top three skills for a lead driver include DOT, work ethic and CDL. The most important skills for a tow truck driver are transport vehicles, CDL, and customer service.
| Lead Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,769 | $38,555 |
| Hourly rate | $21.04 | $18.54 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 821,463 | 666,918 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Lead drivers are professionals who are responsible for supervising the staff drivers of either a logistics or trucking company. These lead drivers must manage the communication between drivers and personnel while generating dispatch reports base on their drivers' tracking logs. They must ensure that vehicles are fit for use according to the standards of the Department of Transportation (DOT) by checking engines and maintaining sufficient fluid levels of all vehicles. Lead drivers must also train and supervise new drivers about the company's policy and safety 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.
Lead drivers and tow truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,769 | $38,555 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $68,000 | Between $29,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Washington |
| Best paying company | Univar | City of Detroit |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a lead driver and a tow truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Lead Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead drivers' and tow truck drivers' demographics:
| Lead Driver | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.1% 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% |