How much do those semi tow truck drivers make?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by TruckRunner, Jul 23, 2018.

  1. TruckRunner

    TruckRunner Heavy Load Member

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    Because they have to be rolling in money to have a fully decked out custom paint job all chrome 2018 tow trucks with the extended condo. I wouldn't want their job though they work in the worst conditions. So whatever they make they earn it.
     
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  3. supersnackbar

    supersnackbar Road Train Member

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    Net earnings are probably not that great, some of those 50 ton rotators w/o all the bells and whistles run 4-500k. That's why when they wear out the truck part they remove the towing platform and mount it on a different truck. Or, like on "Highway Thru Hell" Jamie Davis has sold all his fancy schmancy toys and went back old school like Quiring towing...
     
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  4. DrDieselUSA

    DrDieselUSA Bobtail Member

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    Not necessarily, if you have good credit you can lease a heavy duty wrecker and get in the heavy duty towing business with no experience necessary. I watched in amazement when a light or maybe medium duty towing company decides to buy a heavy duty wrecker, especially a rotator and all you ever see the heavy duty wrecker doing is towing 24' box trucks. It is really scary watching these rookie heavy wrecker companies trying to do heavy recoveries and causing more damage to the truck they are trying to recover. Sometimes they even manage to damage their own heavy wreckers. There are a few videos on youtube of these tow and recovery fails.
     
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  5. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    they get paid from the time the boss calls, till they get home. all travel time.

    not uncommon for a tow driver to get half the hourly rate of $500 per hour + travel time.

    but you cannot get onto that quick, gotta work your way up from car towing. i know, i tried when i was MUCH younger, and this is what i was told how you get onto such a bigger truck.
     
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  6. Trucking in Tennessee

    Trucking in Tennessee Road Train Member

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    It's work. They have to hook up an air line, etc. They guy that towed me in scared the crap out of me. Loaded trailer and truck and he's running 75 on a divided highway. I'm sure the cops don't bother them.
     
  7. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

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    OP, the answer to your question is that the guy driving that truck doesn't make nearly what the owner of the truck/towing company does.

    A good friend of mine owned a small towing company and bought one. He made lots on bad truck wrecks but then spent years, and I mean YEARS dealing with the insurance companies, authorities, property owners, etc. on each one. It's more of an office job than a towing company.
     
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  8. Derailed

    Derailed Road Train Member

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    I watched a couple of the local companies in my area successfully grow in size over the years off of towing in broken down garbage trucks. Seems to be steady daily work for them along with recovery work.
     
  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Pretty sure the chrome and lights on those trucks is just bacon bits on the salad when you look at the cost of one of those trucks.

    I'd love the opportunity to try my hand at heavy recovery. I thrive on problem solving and despise doing the same thing every day.
     
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  10. Atlanta trucker

    Atlanta trucker Road Train Member

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    Chrome and lights
    Chrome and lights
    Chrome and lights
     
  11. An outfit here by me charges to the customer $350./hour once he leaves the yard. Driver makes $20/hour doing the work. Winter rates can go up to double depending on weather conditions and location.

    Another is being on the State Police rotation list. When a wrecker/tow truck is needed they pull from a list of companies they have inspected and vetted the company. This is to insure the officers and public are not being put in jeopardy from a carless operator.

    Like stated above, you need to start small with tow trucks/roll backs and small roadside repair. Then work your way up.
    Don't forget you have companies in your area who have been doing this for decades to compete with.
     
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