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The differences between truck operators 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 truck operator and a tow truck driver. Additionally, a truck operator has an average salary of $39,608, which is higher than the $38,555 average annual salary of a tow truck driver.
The top three skills for a truck operator include CDL, industrial cleaning and customer service. The most important skills for a tow truck driver are transport vehicles, CDL, and customer service.
| Truck Operator | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $39,608 | $38,555 |
| Hourly rate | $19.04 | $18.54 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 667,980 | 666,918 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Truck Operators are individuals making a living by driving trucks and heavy goods vehicles such as articulated trucks, semi-trailers, and tankers. They are responsible for administering goods, loading and unloading into the truck, assessing the goods conditions, scheduling transport operations, arranging transport documentations, and inspecting vehicle conditions before starting work. Other duties include checking tires, fuel, oil filters, and oil levels. Truck Operators also supervise delivery operations, vehicle cleaning, tire maintenance, and refueling.
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.
Truck operators and tow truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Operator | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $39,608 | $38,555 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $29,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Mars | City of Detroit |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a truck operator and a tow truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Truck Operator | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck operators' and tow truck drivers' demographics:
| Truck Operator | Tow Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.9% White, 58.3% 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 Percentage | 4% | 4% |