tow truck driver
Snapshot
Are you mechanically inclined and enjoy helping others in challenging situations? As a tow truck driver, you'll play a vital role in roadside assistance, ensuring vehicles are safely transported and people get back on the road.
Tow truck drivers are essential for moving vehicles that are damaged, broken down, or require relocation for various reasons. Your day might involve responding to emergency calls, assisting police with impoundments, or transporting new vehicles from dealerships or manufacturers. Safety is paramount, requiring careful operation of specialized equipment and adherence to traffic regulations. You’ll be responsible for planning routes, securing vehicles, and ensuring the safe transport of goods and people.
- • Operating and maintaining tow trucks and related equipment.
- • Securing vehicles for transport using appropriate towing techniques.
- • Planning efficient and safe routes, considering traffic and road conditions.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Drivers and mobile plant operators — 52 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and 15 more.
Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 3 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person's chances. It describes a market.
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Could tow truck driver fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Self-Control?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Future Outlook for tow truck driver
The outlook for tow truck driver reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could tow truck driver change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could tow truck driver change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- determine itineraries of bulk trucks
- organise vehicle breakdown support
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- check vehicle damage
- load bulk trucks
- position vehicles for maintenance and repair
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Supply Chain & Transportation
A typical day as a tow truck driver
09 09:00 · Morning determine itineraries of bulk trucks
10 10:30 · Mid-morning operate towtruck
12 12:00 · Midday park vehicles in depot
14 14:00 · Afternoon accommodate cargo in freight transport vehicle
15 15:30 · Late afternoon operate emergency vehicle
17 17:00 · Wrap-up ensure vehicle operability
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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operation of transport equipment
Use of transportation gear, such as car, forklift, truck, tractor, trailer, convoy.
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parking regulations
The up-to-date regulations and enforcement procedures in parking activities.
- health and safety measures in transportation
- mechanics of motor vehicles
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operate towtruck
Attach the vehicle to the towtruck. Ensure safe movement of the vehicle while driving the towtruck. De-attach the vehicle from the towtruck at the destination.
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manoeuvre heavy trucks
Drive, manoeuvre and park tractors, trailers and lorries on roads, around tight corners, and in parking spaces.
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operate emergency vehicle
Drive and maneuver an emergency vehicle and operate its fixed equipment following standard procedures.
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load bulk trucks
Conduct activities associated with determining the itineraries and loading of bulk trucks.
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accommodate cargo in freight transport vehicle
Properly position, cushion, restrain and balance cargo.
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drive vehicles
Be able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.
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park vehicles in depot
Park the vehicles used for professional activities in the designated area of vehicle storage after use, in a safe manner compliant with regulations.
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position vehicles for maintenance and repair
Place vehicles in the right position (such as on top of a pneumatic lift) for repair and maintenance tasks. Follow safety procedures.
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check vehicle damage
Check for vehicle damage including exterior body damage, tire and wheel damage, interior damage, fuel level and mileage at time of rental and return.
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ensure vehicle operability
Keep the vehicle clean and in roadworthy condition. Ensure regular maintenance of the vehicle and provide valid official documents such as licenses and permits where appropriate.
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determine itineraries of bulk trucks
Provide loading and transportation itineraries for bulk trucks along given orders.
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organise vehicle breakdown support
Take all the measures necessary to provide technical support and assistance in case of vehicle breakdown.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does tow truck driver fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of training or skills are needed to become a tow truck driver?
- While formal education isn't always required, a valid driver’s license (often a commercial driver’s license or CDL depending on the vehicle size and local regulations) is essential. Employers typically provide on-the-job training on operating towing equipment and safety procedures. Mechanical aptitude and strong problem-solving skills are also valuable.
- What are the working conditions like for a tow truck driver?
- The work can be demanding, often involving irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, especially for emergency towing. You’ll be working outdoors in various weather conditions. Physical strength is needed to secure vehicles and manage equipment. Safety protocols are crucial to mitigate risks associated with roadside work.
- Is it common to work independently as a tow truck driver?
- While some tow truck drivers operate their own businesses, this occupation is primarily employee-based. Most tow truck drivers are employed by towing companies, roadside assistance services, or automotive dealerships.
- Tow Truck Driver — what does it pay in the United States?
- $57,440 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $25,510 to $70,100. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.