What are typical tow truck driver salaries?

Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

Host said: Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

salaries vary by location. however with unlimited overtime our starting drivers can make on average 30k per year. the more experience you have and the more equipment you can safely operate increase your potential worth to an employer. also obtaining a cdl license is desirable.

owner in Morgantown, West Virginia said: salaries vary by location. however with unlimited overtime our starting drivers can make on average 30k per year. the more experience you have and the more equipment you can safely operate increase your potential worth to an employer. also obtaining a cdl license is desirable.

as a 35 year vet of towing, i feel that that wrecker operators are paid less today than when i started ,for the responsibility and training nessasary to be a qualified operator. that towing company owners today take advatage of drivers by not having to pay overtime for the long hours you have to work to keep your job, this industry is long over due for a major ivestigation of the long hours you are forced to work witch is against all dot rules and regulations, 25,000 to 36,000 dollars a year to be a supposed profesional operator is a joke. companies will chew you up and and spit you out when you complain and wont even remember your name. unfortunatly once tou have the towing bug its hard to get it out of system trust me i know.

Im just getting started with my own Truck and i need to know what i can afford to pay a driver...i can't afford hourly as business is much too slow starting so i'll attempt to pay commision for now...my competitors charge around 50.00 per tow locally...if im charging 50.00 per tow whats reasonable commission? someone please shed some light on the subject for me. Also are there any protocol i should follow when paying someone commission? any way to avoid workers comp.? im in cali.

rickwrecker is absolutely right..we dont get paid right..for the amount of responsibility we have and the amount of work we have to do. plus if you get paid commission you dont get paid for any time you spend maintaining your truck or if your trucks down for a few hours...or if they want you at the shop at 7am and you dont get a call till 10:30 you dont get paid for those 3 1/2 hours..it sucks especailly when you could be doing somethin meaningful like spending some time with the family you never see...and like rick said he's been in the business for 35 years. ive been for 8. no one wants to pay for your experience..the dude that walks in from the street and has never towed a car gets the same 30% commission that i we get...WTF is that..and dont even get me started on loyalty to your worker that gives you 140 hours a week and then says no when your asked to work your 1 day off..the next week your fired..hate to even say this but>>>we need a union<<<

How can you guys unionize?? Im not in this business but DAMN!! How the hell does the law allow you to drive around for some many hours. Obviously its no secret the long hours you guys put in.

Jose in Hollywood, Florida said: How can you guys unionize?? Im not in this business but DAMN!! How the hell does the law allow you to drive around for some many hours. Obviously its no secret the long hours you guys put in.

easy it is all paperless and it is the law having us to run and also dot regulations dont completly apply look at the trucker bible it is all defined well we could unionize but the company would just keep hiring scabs lots of those out there

just starting my own tow business, and I only have one truck. what would be the right type of customers to have in order to make enough profit to expand. would it be with car lots, regular tow from the yellow pages, or what. Just finding out what too do. Thanks,

tow man in Duluth, Georgia said: just starting my own tow business, and I only have one truck. what would be the right type of customers to have in order to make enough profit to expand. would it be with car lots, regular tow from the yellow pages, or what. Just finding out what too do. Thanks,

get a regular client base like car garages and also fleets delivery trucks such as bread or uniform companys and also get on your local police roataion list and when it is slow buy junk cars and go sell them to the scrap yard

I have been in the business for 7 yrs myself and have to agree with all the comments above especially "once you have the towing bug its hard to get it out of system" I do have one question though, in reference to the truckers bible and paper work . ARE THERE ANY OTHER DRIVERS REQUIRED TO KEEP A LOG BOOK OF DRIVING HOURS WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCE TOWS (IE: 400 MILES ONE WAY) ?

TowTow in Albuquerque, New Mexico said: I have been in the business for 7 yrs myself and have to agree with all the comments above especially "once you have the towing bug its hard to get it out of system" I do have one question though, in reference to the truckers bible and paper work . ARE THERE ANY OTHER DRIVERS REQUIRED TO KEEP A LOG BOOK OF DRIVING HOURS WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCE TOWS (IE: 400 MILES ONE WAY) ?

if you travel over a 150 mile radius in a cmv then yes you are supposed to log your time you can pick up the latest copy of jj keller dot regulations at your nearest book store cost about a buck fifty but well worth the money

TowTow in Albuquerque, New Mexico said: I have been in the business for 7 yrs myself and have to agree with all the comments above especially "once you have the towing bug its hard to get it out of system" I do have one question though, in reference to the truckers bible and paper work . ARE THERE ANY OTHER DRIVERS REQUIRED TO KEEP A LOG BOOK OF DRIVING HOURS WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCE TOWS (IE: 400 MILES ONE WAY) ?

towtow you need to check nmdot i use a daily short haul log which lets me drive up to 150 miles from my home base

rickwrecker in Pompano Beach, Florida said: as a 35 year vet of towing, i feel that that wrecker operators are paid less today than when i started ,for the responsibility and training nessasary to be a qualified operator. that towing company owners today take advatage of drivers by not having to pay overtime for the long hours you have to work to keep your job, this industry is long over due for a major ivestigation of the long hours you are forced to work witch is against all dot rules and regulations, 25,000 to 36,000 dollars a year to be a supposed profesional operator is a joke. companies will chew you up and and spit you out when you complain and wont even remember your name. unfortunatly once tou have the towing bug its hard to get it out of system trust me i know.

AMEN BROTHER!! It is funny how they will run you in the dirt, cost you your license, then simply place an ad - "Driver Wanted, must have good driving record"

rickwrecker in Pompano Beach, Florida said: as a 35 year vet of towing, i feel that that wrecker operators are paid less today than when i started ,for the responsibility and training nessasary to be a qualified operator. that towing company owners today take advatage of drivers by not having to pay overtime for the long hours you have to work to keep your job, this industry is long over due for a major ivestigation of the long hours you are forced to work witch is against all dot rules and regulations, 25,000 to 36,000 dollars a year to be a supposed profesional operator is a joke. companies will chew you up and and spit you out when you complain and wont even remember your name. unfortunatly once tou have the towing bug its hard to get it out of system trust me i know.

As an owner, I have not taken a wage from the company for 2 years. The equipment is expensive, fuel is expensive and payroll is expensive, leaving no room for profit or even a reasonable wage for myself. I have been an employee myself in the past and viewed management the same way you do, but now sitting on the other side of the fence I can see clearly how wrong I was as an employee. If you still have a job in towing you should be thankful to your owner as we are all in a no profit industry right now. I'm sure you can figure out that when a tow ticket is $30 from an autoclub there is no room for profit.

Good Luck and If you dont believe me start a tow company. It only takes a truck, oh and insurance, and a yard, and office staff, plus gear for the truck, and fuel Plus maintenance and a new transmission every now an then, now go hire someone and if they dont receive any tows for the day you are still on the hook because you have to pay a base wage. Its a tough market.

Its should be a whole lot different if they have a police contact impounding cars and big rig wrecks costing $15000 plus. Why can't we get paid more?

BRAD in Beaverton, Oregon said: As an owner, I have not taken a wage from the company for 2 years. The equipment is expensive, fuel is expensive and payroll is expensive, leaving no room for profit or even a reasonable wage for myself. I have been an employee myself in the past and viewed management the same way you do, but now sitting on the other side of the fence I can see clearly how wrong I was as an employee. If you still have a job in towing you should be thankful to your owner as we are all in a no profit industry right now. I'm sure you can figure out that when a tow ticket is $30 from an autoclub there is no room for profit.

Good Luck and If you dont believe me start a tow company. It only takes a truck, oh and insurance, and a yard, and office staff, plus gear for the truck, and fuel Plus maintenance and a new transmission every now an then, now go hire someone and if they dont receive any tows for the day you are still on the hook because you have to pay a base wage. Its a tough market.

Can anyone explain Piece Rate to me and how it might affect rate of pay?

Is this a scam to favor the employer or is it just another way to avoid overtime and limit your exposure to Workman's Comp or both?

We are paid an hourly wage and a commission yet I don't see any of the hours or commissions adding up. I have yet to get a real explanation of how it works and what I have found on the Internet doesn't jive with what's actually happening here. Any insight anyone??

My husband drives a wrecker for a comPany in MS and he clears between $1800-$3500 a week! His lowest check in four years was $1500 and that was the week he was on paid vacation! He is the only driver for this company and has been for a year and he wouldn't have it any other way! He is on call 24/7 but that doesn't mean he works 24/7. He works about 30 hours a week. I do agree, once you get the tow bug it's there! I love the fact that my husband loves his job an if I wanna ride with him I can!! He works for local shops, pd rotations, AAA, and a few motor clubs! One thing the both of us have learned, clientele is your main need! He has many repeat customers and has built his reputation with this company!! I would suggest you guys look for a new company!!!

ok im in florida my husbands boss clames hes not making anything off the guys i have a aunt working in his office and she can hear things from her office and its a huge lie hes making it good enough that he just had a house built for two of his kids and bought tree new tow trucks and much more tell me hes hurting too yeah right and here in florida the AAA is crap they pay the company $24 a call and my hubby gets $7 for the call and he gets 25% of the tow wow not crap if the call dosent go but 3 miles and his hours shouldnt be aloud this is his hours a week he has to be in his truck at 7 am and its a free for all till 5pm meaning all the drivers just grab the calls as they come in that time fram but even if you are not busy you have to stay in your truck and you dont make any money unless you are running calls then from 5pm to 7am you have it set to you are in line to be called out if needed so if thee is 5 drivers it is the 1st driver is oncall meaning that guy is running 7am to 7am the 2nd driver is backup meaning he also is normaly 7am to 7am then you have 3rd he is from 7am to anywhere but mostly hes done by midnight but still can be called out till 7am same with 4th but 5th he is the guy who will be on the next day for the 24 hr shift and he still can get called out but that oncall driver knows what hes going to have to do the next day and trys not to call him out but there are those times you just cant help it and you have to call him out oh and all the drivers but that 1st one have to be back in to work at 7am the next day no matter what time you was out to the night before and even tho you worked a 24hr shift and was stuck to that truck all day you may may have only ran 18 calls wich comes out to $126 for the 24hrs with no sleep or food cause you can forget getting food cause your truck cant go threw drivetrus and there job is not the safes they can get hit by a car while working

Wow - thanks Jeb for making the school system out in Florida the model from which the rest of the country is to follow. It sounds like Tiffiny isn't happy with the average towing industry model - suffice to say I wouldn't either in those circumstances. And yet, Hanneyjorat is on the flip side of the coin - making good money, working decent hours, although I would say that being one driver on call 24-7 is no picnic either, but it seems to work for them.

One thing that I have found is that the louder an owner whines about lack of money, the less likelihood it ends up being true in many cases - not all mind you as there are plenty of tow bosses out there hurting. My advice to those that talk to employees about how bad life is for them - don't talk - all you're doing is making morale worse and giving an employee that much more incentive to leave in fear that they may not have a job next week. It isn't professional anyway.

Forums like these and the wealth of information available through the Internet and various organizations geared towards the industry give us more than enough channels to explore different ways of making money. While times are hard to be sure, persistence, determination and a little creativity are the basic necessities of getting through the hard times. It's unfortunate that there are some owners that don't want to do the legwork and forge the alliances often needed to get through the critical times, to remain profitable and to keep food on the table. To those I would suggest *quit yer bitchin* and git with the program!

BRAD in Beaverton, Oregon said: As an owner, I have not taken a wage from the company for 2 years. The equipment is expensive, fuel is expensive and payroll is expensive, leaving no room for profit or even a reasonable wage for myself. I have been an employee myself in the past and viewed management the same way you do, but now sitting on the other side of the fence I can see clearly how wrong I was as an employee. If you still have a job in towing you should be thankful to your owner as we are all in a no profit industry right now. I'm sure you can figure out that when a tow ticket is $30 from an autoclub there is no room for profit.

Good Luck and If you dont believe me start a tow company. It only takes a truck, oh and insurance, and a yard, and office staff, plus gear for the truck, and fuel Plus maintenance and a new transmission every now an then, now go hire someone and if they dont receive any tows for the day you are still on the hook because you have to pay a base wage. Its a tough market.

Amen to that, I have an issue keeping drivers because they are greedy. We allow our drivers to take our trucks home, ride around in our trucks to run their personal errands and stay home until called - and still they complain on a busy day. What about all the days that we had no calls and you stayed at home collecting a paycheck? I am so tired of the greed that I see in people. They think we are making all this money and have no idea the expense involved. I have heard that some companies pay 45% but you are reasponsible for fuel and maintenance and some parts - Maybe then we would make a profit.

I concur with the other owners. I have not taken a pay check from the business since the market tanked, 3 years now. I do believe many tow drivers work hard for what they receive. The work is enjoyable but the tow paying market does not value our services enough to pay a higher wage. If you have a job and are still being paid the same wages you were, if not more, then three years ago you are very fortunate. Yes there are other occupations that pay more (dentistry) and some that pay less (Telemarketing) but I dont think there are many that are more enjoyable (except professional Motocross). Owners respect your employees, Employees respect your owners. If we all work together in a workmanlike manner we will survive these poor economic times. Good Luck To All, Cheers

Lets not also forget that hard times can often increase business on some levels. Some people are not always on top of the basics, like paying their bills on time, maintenance, staying current insofar as legalities surrounding their vehicles, etc. In our market more and more people are simply leaving their vehicles behind through amnesty and lien sales. Some can't afford their vehicles and they get impounded and/or repossessed. Some simply abandon their vehicles. And then of course the *illegals*.

I have found that employees will often whine no matter what the conditions are, often more to do with frustrations in the lives in general over their socio-economic status or otherwise. It's certainly not ownership's responsibility to provide counseling for those that need it, including for ownership themselves often times, but creating the right work climate is paramount. Simon has it right, when all respect each other and work together, to not only get the job done but develop business through courteous and professional service, in the end all *should* be happier and make sufficient money to live their lives accordingly - within their means. The alternative is community college and expanding your skills to pursue a better paying job elsewhere. No one likes being stuck, and certainly no one likes working with those that feel stuck.

A person's outlook on life has much more power than availability. Don't let the market wear you down my friend - allow it to strengthen your resolved to succeed, which in turn will make you appreciate the end result more. However, we totally agree on your second point H.

I run a tire shop in a small town just outside of a larger metro area and I am wanting to hire someone that has their own tow truck that cannot afford his own shop, and just lease him or her the property and let them operate out of the extra space that is located in the back of my business.

My question is how should I structure my lease agreement and what do you guys think is a fair to charge in this type of lease? They will simply be using my property to build their business.

Should there be a combination of Rent and Business transaction? I don't think it would be unethical or rude to ask to check out their books on a month by month basis just to get an idea of the monthly revenue and I would take a percentage of that. Very reasonable, of course.

Thanks, Seth in South Carolina

Prolific11 in Lyman, South Carolina said: I run a tire shop in a small town just outside of a larger metro area and I am wanting to hire someone that has their own tow truck that cannot afford his own shop, and just lease him or her the property and let them operate out of the extra space that is located in the back of my business.

My question is how should I structure my lease agreement and what do you guys think is a fair to charge in this type of lease? They will simply be using my property to build their business.

Should there be a combination of Rent and Business transaction? I don't think it would be unethical or rude to ask to check out their books on a month by month basis just to get an idea of the monthly revenue and I would take a percentage of that. Very reasonable, of course.

Thanks, Seth in South Carolina

The first question i would ask is - are you planning on being a business partner? Rent doesn't constitute a percentage of what the business is taking in - it should be a fixed cost so that the company knows is exactly what is expected. Also, unless you were putting equity into my company you would not be looking at my books for any reason what so ever. In fact, i have shown my tax returns to three people - 10ksb for scholarship reasons, and two certification entities that can help me get business, but i first have to prove that i meet their qualifications. You should look around, see what other properties are going for and then realize, being jointly connected to your landlord is a drawback - unless you can gaurantee them tows because of this connection. But also, what if they start a service truck that goes out and changes tires - isn't that in direct competition with you - I would choose someone that has nothing to do with my industry, unless it's someone you trust with your livelyhood.

Thanks Mrs Tower.

In response to your question, no I am not seeking a business partner as I own the tire biz aleady. I am merely looking to expand my clientele and have another type of income as a result of the tow business running services from my shop.

The reason I would want to see the operators books is because I want to have an idea as to whatwould be fair to charge on a commision type basis. I know this sounds a bit unreasonable, but I am essentially protecting my investment in allowing someone to use my space. I'm sure I can find another way to do this as I get acquainted with the tow business a bit more.

I see this as a win win for the operator and myself. I am a subcontractor that gives the operator a chance to own their own biz and they dont have to purchase property.

The scenario I am seeing is that I charge a monthly rent of $1000 for the 1st month and then $500 thereafter. On top of that I will get a 2% stake in their monthly gross.

Also what are the qualifications that you speak of when referring to certification entities and 10 ksb?

Thanks again
Seth in SC

There is a new movement running through our great country right now. It is called Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses. Also, I am applying for my womens certifications.

Seth,

MT's points are very well advised. I would personally keep the relationship as clean as possible - charge your rent - that's it! Turf each other some business as a courtesy or convenience. However, once you start asking to inspect the books of someone who may or may not be a partner of sorts can get complicated, and ultimately your *investment* can easily be protected with a security deposit. From my seat your *investment* is simply unused space. I would ask myself why this happened. Are you experiencing a contraction in your business?

On the issue of inspecting books, are you willing to give up a small percentage back to the operator of any business generated by his attracting new business to you?? Are you willing to have your books inspected monthly?? If you're going to ask for a piece of my pie I would hope that my asking in turn wouldn't be viewed as unreasonable, or rude.

There are better ways to research the towing industry without having to use a back door approach. True, it *can* be a win-win, but the potential complications may overshadow any positives - unless you get lucky and find someone who you can build a VERY trusting relationship with - and it has to work both ways. You might be better off just buying a used tow truck and paying someone to operate it if your ultimate goal is to get into the towing business. Another option? You could send an idle employee or yourself to a class at CTTA, Wreckmasters, or whatever is certifiable in your area. This approach could maximize the productivity of your existing labor force. If buying a tow truck is out of your reach, perhaps leasing one might be better. Of course that would entail taking on risk and additional liability - could get expensive - sounds like an *investment*. Your approach, while creative assumes no real exposure, thus no real investment.

Rent or lease the space to another entity and keep life simple. MT's suggestions are well though-out. Good Luck.