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The differences between tow truck operators and tractor-trailer 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 tractor-trailer driver. Additionally, a tractor-trailer driver has an average salary of $58,498, 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 tractor-trailer driver are DOT, CDL, and OTR.
| Tow Truck Operator | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,448 | $58,498 |
| Hourly rate | $20.89 | $28.12 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 72,416 | 690,787 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| 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 tractor-trailer driver is responsible for picking up and delivering goods and services from distribution centers and warehouses to different locations across the country as required. Tractor-trailer drivers manage the best route planning to prevent delays. They should also have extensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the vehicle's condition regularly, repairing any inconsistencies, and replacing defective components to ensure smooth operations. A tractor-trailer driver must have excellent communication and organizational skills, responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns and escalating complaints to management for immediate resolution.
Tow truck operators and tractor-trailer drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tow Truck Operator | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,448 | $58,498 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $62,000 | Between $40,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Longview, WA | Atlanta, GA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | 7th Street Casino | Exel Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a tow truck operator and a tractor-trailer driver in terms of educational background:
| Tow Truck Operator | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tow truck operators' and tractor-trailer drivers' demographics:
| Tow Truck Operator | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |