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The differences between tow truck operators and cdl 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 operator and a cdl driver. Additionally, a cdl driver has an average salary of $63,112, which is higher than the $43,448 average annual salary of a tow truck operator.
The top three skills for a tow truck operator include transport vehicles, tow truck and DOT. The most important skills for a cdl driver are DOT, CDL-A, and customer service.
| Tow Truck Operator | CDL Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,448 | $63,112 |
| Hourly rate | $20.89 | $30.34 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 72,416 | 784,044 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Tow Truck Operator works with a towing company and assists with removing damaged vehicles from accident scenes or broken down vehicles that have been abandoned at the request of the owner of the vehicle or the owner of the property. Typically, the tow truck operator's duties start first by receiving a call from a dispatcher and then driving to the accident or breakdown scene. He/She connects the vehicle to the tow truck and transports it to its final destination, a junkyard or a service station.
A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.
Tow truck operators and cdl drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tow Truck Operator | CDL Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,448 | $63,112 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $62,000 | Between $41,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Longview, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | 7th Street Casino | GCP Applied Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Retail |
There are a few differences between a tow truck operator and a cdl driver in terms of educational background:
| Tow Truck Operator | CDL Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tow truck operators' and cdl drivers' demographics:
| Tow Truck Operator | CDL Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |