Becoming a tow truck driver?

You would need a class A CDL. As far as any endorsements? That I am not sure of, but I'd suspect hazmat, in those times you may have to go and recover a trailer loaded with hazmats, but, I cannot say for sure. Why don't you ask the tow company, who else would know better than them?

As far as tow company's training for CDL, again,this I cannot say for sure, usually one already HAS the CDL, and they train you on how to operate various equipment trailers, and how to use the air-bags, etc,etc.

 

Mechanical skills are a plus. You have to be pretty hardy. This time of year, a tow truck driver works nearly around the clock. In the rain, in the snow, in the mud, in the water on call for an entire weekend.

its a cool job for the right person, but it definitely not an easy job.

 

You almost have to have some sort of inside track (know somebody who can/will will take you on as an apprentice for several months) You can't just spend a few hours in orientation then go out and retrieve an overturned 18 wheeler, 100 foot down an embankment, on an inch of ice ... or even a car for that matter. I suppose it would help to have a rather extensive mechanic's background too in many cases. With many cars, there is a right way to get them loaded or hooked up, and there is a wrong way.

 

Hi Christoph, are you the squeamish type? It's not just picking up stranded cars. You'll go to accidents where people have gotten killed or worse. People that know me here know I always give "worst case situations" so you know what you are up against. I have a friend that does heavy duty wrecker work, and I thought I'd do a few "ride along's" as I was tired of driving a semi. One tow was a fatality, and we had to wait until the paramedics removed the bodies. Not a pretty sight. After the 3rd trip, I told him, I don't think this is for me. Another thing with towing, you better keep a gun with you. A guy came to pick up a junk van in my yard, and I asked him how he liked it. He said, many times, he'll go to pick up repossessed cars and these people aren't too happy about that. Also, many times, he said, these cars may be 3 or 4 cars in and none of them start. Don't get me wrong, now I knew another guy, all he did was take 2 cars from impound lots to junk yards. I guess that would be ok. Pay is about average, I'd think you are making more at what you do now. Good luck.

 

If your going to drive a regular AAA small towtruck a class c is all you need, you will probably need a PC card.

There not going to take you straight into HD Towing. By the way most tow companies do not pay very well till you get up to Class A HD tow and recovery. Driving A HD Tow rig is not like driving a Swift or England truck, If you do not know what your doing in HD tow and recovery your going to kill someone. Good luck and listen to your trainer like your life depends on it, Oh ya it does......

 

Hi PJ, that's true. On one HD tow with my friend, we picked up a dead 18 that was loaded. !st thing my friend did was remove the driveshaft, that didn't look like fun (in winter), then he picked it up by the steer axle and we took off. Now the 18 was 80K lbs. and the tow truck was at least 40K lbs. so you have a unit at least 120K lbs. and it felt like it. He had a long air lines going to the trailer, but it was still a handful. Oh, we had to go into a scale, and he went to the outside, and the cops waved him by. They knew who he was as he see's these LEO's on a regular basis.

 

As a former tow driver that comes from a family with 2 towing companies in it, stay the hell away from towing! There can be some money in the heavy duty stuff, but it's work! You don't just hook up a truck, even if it's only on the side of the road it takes a while to hook it, you gotta pull axles, driveshafts, fill up air systems to release brakes, sometimes they don't want to release. Then you have the recovery aspect of it. You'll be hot, cold, soaked etc. You could make more money for less work just driving regular Class A stuff. As far as the towing of passenger cars and trucks, no money in it at all.

 

If you have people that are willing to train you thats great, as far as licensing I'd say get your class A, combo vehicle, and air breaks. Those three are pretty ez to get and you will have a few more options if you decide you dont like the tow game. You can always add double/triple Hazmat and Tanker latter on also.

I am a big fan of options

 

Hey guys...
I just recently got a tow truck driving gig.. we do all sorts of towing.. from motorcycles to heavy equipment and big rigs..
of course, being new, I am just learning the ropes and be being trained... most of the solo stuff I am doing is parking lot grabs, lockouts and tire and battery service calls, soft repos.. voluntary repos and the basic towing cars and small trucks to the shop...

so far, it has been about a month, and I really like it... discovered I have a knack for picking locks.. didnt know that.. the hustle that I have always had is especially good in parking lot grabs..
so far I have been on a few bad accident calls, two with fatalities.. but, they had us park a bit away until the i jured and bodies were taken.. but, even so.. it was obvious from the state of the car and such that it was bad... o e was particularly tough as there was a child seat...

Semi Retired is right about carrying a gun.. I got my co cealed carry permit.. and do carry a gun with me.. the crazy thing is, although you expect the repos and parking lot grabs to be the crazy coconfrontational ones... I had a couple calls where I was picking up a stalled car on the side of the road and they were jerks.. seriously.. you called for a tow truck, you obviously need a tow truck and you are going to be a jerk to me... but, the thing is they are frustrated and stressed about the situation and just vent it on you... Fortunately I am good with people and dont feed into... no point in upsetting an already upset and stressed out person..

as far as there being no money in it.. wow, dont know what you guys are used to making.. but last week with my hourly base wage of $18 per hour and my persentage of calls and grabs I did.. I averaged $29.47 an hour for a 52 hour week... which to me is not shabby at all....

Yes, there were some rainy and stormy calls.. actually, whenever the weather is bad things are busy... crazy how many people lock their keys in the car, leave their lights on or run out of gas... when the weather is nice some still call, others call a friend or whatever..

the hours are irregular.. I often work a split shift.. I will be in the shop in the morning for 4 or 5 hours.. then be off until I go on call over night.. I have yet to have a night without a couple
Calls... but, I also usually get a couple parking lot grabs a night too and that adds to the paycheck..

so, far.. I really like it..