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Trailer truck driver vs tow truck driver

The differences between trailer truck 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 trailer truck driver and a tow truck driver. Additionally, a trailer truck driver has an average salary of $57,200, which is higher than the $38,555 average annual salary of a tow truck driver.

The top three skills for a trailer truck driver include CDL, commodities and DOT. The most important skills for a tow truck driver are transport vehicles, CDL, and customer service.

Trailer truck driver vs tow truck driver overview

Trailer Truck DriverTow Truck Driver
Yearly salary$57,200$38,555
Hourly rate$27.50$18.54
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs703,458666,918
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 57%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

Trailer truck driver vs tow truck driver salary

Trailer truck drivers and tow truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Trailer Truck DriverTow Truck Driver
Average salary$57,200$38,555
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $87,000Between $29,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CityNew Brunswick, NJAuburn, WA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyWashington
Best paying companyCopartCity of Detroit
Best paying industryAutomotiveTransportation

Differences between trailer truck driver and tow truck driver education

There are a few differences between a trailer truck driver and a tow truck driver in terms of educational background:

Trailer Truck DriverTow Truck Driver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 57%
Most common majorBusinessAutomotive Technology
Most common college--

Trailer truck driver vs tow truck driver demographics

Here are the differences between trailer truck drivers' and tow truck drivers' demographics:

Trailer Truck DriverTow Truck Driver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 93.7% Female, 6.3%Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 57.4% 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 Percentage4%4%

Differences between trailer truck driver and tow truck driver duties and responsibilities

Trailer truck driver example responsibilities.

  • Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
  • Used GPS and/or maps to familiarize routes effectively.
  • Pick up and deliver brewery items to distributorwork local routes as well as otr routesdrove deliveries to las vegas and beyond
  • Report to dispatch receive orders of the day or night complete tank-trailer inspection maintain OTR paper logs records and tanks service
  • Check all load documentation for accuracy, inspect load and receive required signatures for pickup and delivery.
  • Look after the maintenance of general commodities such as steel, pipes, and associate LTL loads.
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Tow truck driver example responsibilities.

  • Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
  • Operate tow truck and equipment (dollies, go jacks).
  • Drive rollback tow truck, load and unload cars, secure cars on truck bed, operate hydraulic, maintain truck
  • Right eye injury and ineligibility for CDL )
  • Job require current CDL with clean driving record.
  • Maintain contracts with several companies as well as CHP work.
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Trailer truck driver vs tow truck driver skills

Common trailer truck driver skills
  • CDL, 55%
  • Commodities, 16%
  • DOT, 7%
  • OTR, 5%
  • Tractor-Trailer Combination, 2%
  • Asphalt, 1%
Common tow truck driver skills
  • Transport Vehicles, 22%
  • CDL, 17%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Loaders, 10%
  • AAA, 8%
  • Fuel Delivery, 5%

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