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The differences between tow truck drivers and commercial 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 tow truck driver and a commercial truck driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, which is higher than the $38,555 average annual salary of a tow truck driver.
The top three skills for a tow truck driver include transport vehicles, CDL and customer service. The most important skills for a commercial truck driver are CDL, good time management, and safety issues.
| Tow Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $38,555 | $64,512 |
| Hourly rate | $18.54 | $31.02 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 666,918 | 719,069 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A commercial truck driver is primarily in charge of transporting and delivering cargo, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities include driving for long durations, coordinating with logistics staff, handling documentation, and maintaining the safety of cargo. There are also instances where they must liaise with clients, unload and load cargo, and keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a commercial truck driver, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks on vehicles and adhere to the traffic laws and regulations for a safe and productive work environment.
Tow truck drivers and commercial truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tow Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $38,555 | $64,512 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $41,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | City of Detroit | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a tow truck driver and a commercial truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Tow Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tow truck drivers' and commercial truck drivers' demographics:
| Tow Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |