How to start a repo business

To start a repo business, you need to learn about your local repossession business laws, apply for your repossession license, and acquire licenses, permits, and business insurance. For details on these steps and others you can take to start a repo business, use this guide:

How To Become A Tow Truck Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a tow truck operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

When someone's in distress, the two truck driver can be a lifesaver. So, if you become a tow truck operator, you can be a superhero who always comes to the rescue! Masing sure that a vehicle is out of the roadway is the main duty of the two truck driver.

To do this job successfully, you'll first need to make sure that the car is properly secured to the tow truck. Driving the tow truck carefully is also important, because you'll want to make sure that the cars don't get damaged while being transported.

As a tow truck driver, you'll encounter people in many different stressful situations. As such, you'll need to know how to remain calm and collected and how to always be courteous. Tow truck drivers are also responsible for maintaining their equipment and doing regular checks on their trucks.

If you're interested in becoming a tow truck driver, federal law requires that you be at least 18 years old. However, please be aware, that most companies will require a minimum age between 21-25 years old. Although a CDL is not required, having one will be a big plus in your job search. The most important thing you'll need to get into this line of work is a clean driving record.

ScoreTow Truck OperatorUS Average

Salary

3.4

Avg. Salary $43,448

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.79%

Asian 3.54%

Black or African American 11.48%

Hispanic or Latino 20.57%

Unknown 4.62%

White 59.00%

Gender

female 3.41%

male 96.59%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.6

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

1.4

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a tow truck operator

Explore tow truck operator education requirements

Most common tow truck operator degrees

High School Diploma

52.7 %

Associate

17.1 %

Diploma

13.2 %

Start to develop specific tow truck operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Transport Vehicles	25.09%
Tow Truck	14.28%
DOT	8.04%
CDL	7.40%
AAA	6.63%

Complete relevant tow truck operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tow truck operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tow truck operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tow truck operator resumes.

Research tow truck operator duties and responsibilities

Dispatch through ranger systems GPS.
Utilize and strongly encourage the proper use of PPE while on and off location.
Operate and drive tow trucks on CHP rotation calls alongside with police department and insurance calls.
Work with CHP and city police daily assisting with impounds, accidents, and vehicle recovery.

Prepare your tow truck operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tow truck operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a tow truck operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable tow truck operator resume templates

Build a professional tow truck operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your tow truck operator resume.

Apply for tow truck operator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a tow truck operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do tow truck operators rate their job?

-/5

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1 star

Tow truck operator reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020

Cons

You can make enough money to support your family but you will not be a very big part of that family. Not family oriented, always gone. Missing out on your family's life.

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Pros

Driving the truck