Towing industry

You would probably be better off to do your research and ask questions on a towing forum. I know there is at least one that is very active like this forum.

 

Most tow truck drivers I know get paid a percentage of a job - or a flat rate if they are doing a repossesion. They also work random hours and stay on call at all times....

 

I don't know about Manitoba but here in my part of Ontario a light service driver drives a booster buggy. Which is just a pickup truck going around doing battery boosts, lockouts and tire changes
As for towing we have regular tow trucks, med duty tows, flatbeds and heavy wreckers

As for wages. Most places pay by commission with a rate of 30% of the call total for company drivers. Some companies will pay 40% if you pay the fuel bill and anywhere from 70-80% for an O/O

If the company you are looking at is mainly CAA work you can expect about $15 for each in-town call you do as a company driver.

If you work for a company that does not deal with CAA. You would be looking at 35% of the call and company paid fuel. Drivers for these companies although not as busy as CAA companies make about the same take home pay. Due to the fact that these companies deal mainly with private & police contracts which pay more per call.

In my area during a busy 2 week period you could look at a $3000+ take home pay easy. Average 2 week pay maybe $2000-$2500... And a slow 2 week period you are lucky if you bring home $1000

Hours of work.
Most companies I know of work a minimum of 12 hour shifts with every other weekend off. Also if you get to take the truck home your on-call 24-7. In the winter when really busy expect 15 to 17 hour shifts.

One last thing.. Most companies will not pay for damages caused by their driver and any damage you cause comes right off your pay. That's goes for both the customers vehicle and the tow truck

 

Just to add on, because I assume you don't live in a large city, Manitoba and all.

Where I am at, I can go out as far as 6 hours down dirt roads doing 30 Km/h. CAA here only pays 10 dollars to me at 30%. Where I'm at if I get lucky and get a long retail call(Not BCAA) I'm getting a buck per mile in my pocket. Then again, if you are in a small town as well, these long calls are few and very far between.

I've been at it for 2 months, my brother for 10 years, and I'm still learning. Be prepared to be nervous, because no matter how good your hookup is, seeing the vehicle behind you bouncing up and down so far is going to make you think it's just going to snap those flimsy straps. It won't, but it will scare the bejesus out of you.

It's also a good job for you to work your way up to the eventual goal(for me at least) of your class 1/A. Because every upgrade, be it your air ticket, your class 3, or your class one, you will be opening more doors, bigger and better trucks, and better pay.


Ya, if you have and questions just ask us.