Becoming a tow truck driver seems quite easy, right? It’s just about hauling vehicles that have been damaged in accidents or have broken down. Well, that’s mostly what the work of a tow truck driver revolves around, but the process of becoming one is a bit complex. Not only that, but the requirements and steps you should take to earn your licence will vary from one jurisdiction to the next.
So if you’re interested in becoming a successful tow truck driver, here is what you should know.
Basics First: What Prerequisites Must You Meet?
While the requirements to become a tow truck driver vary between states, some preconditions rarely change. These include:
- Age
- Education/Training
- Driver’s Licence
- Physical assessments
- Background checks
Let’s look at each of them more closely.
1. Age
Most jurisdictions in the United States require tow truck drivers to be at least 18 years old to operate a tow truck. Of course, the different employers in the same jurisdictions will require applicants to have some hands-on experience, bringing the typical minimum age to around 21-25. It’s recommended to look at the state requirements and employer requirements beforehand, before starting the application process.
2. Education and Training
Truck driver education requirements depend mainly on the employer as opposed to established standards. Still, most employers like to see a high school diploma or GED. Even where background education isn’t required, you will need to show that you’ve taken a training course from a local community college or a vocational school.
Courses in towing and recovery are designed to offer fundamental knowledge and practical training to ensure you can operate such machines safely and efficiently. Even after becoming employed, it’s recommended to take a licence renewal tow truck course from a recognised education provider like RocketCert to keep your skills current.
3. Driver’s Licence
You will also need a valid state-issued driver’s licence and a good driving score to show that you are reliable and have a good safety history on the road. If you have a history of overspeeding, DUI, and other traffic violations, it will likely ruin your chances of getting licensed successfully.
4. Physical Assessment
The work of a tow truck driver is often physically demanding; thus, employers may need to conduct a physical assessment to ensure you’re capable of handling different challenges. While this may sound a bit harsh to some people, it’s good to see it for what it is: employers want you to be safe.
If they were to allow a physically incompetent candidate to join their team, the tow truck driver may end up injuring themselves and others on the road. Such cases often also mean the tow truck company will carry liability charges, and that’s something a lot of company owners would hate to deal with.
5. Background Checks
Though not all the time, an employer may also decide to run a criminal background check since a tow truck driver will often have to move high-value vehicles with owners’ valuable possessions inside. Therefore, the employer might want to ensure that whoever they are hiring is someone they can trust. Some states may even require you to get fingerprinted, so don’t be alarmed if you’re asked to do this during the application process.
Choosing The Right Certification
After getting into the tow trucking career and feeling ready to take the next step, you can choose to obtain your certification either online or in person. You will want to do this through the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA). It’s good, however, to keep in mind that such certifications are reserved for drivers who have enough experience.
TRAA is responsible for creating national standards for tow truck drivers, and the training covers various aspects like safety, truck maintenance, customer service, equipment, and incident management. You can choose from three levels of certification:
- Light-duty towing – Level 1
- Medium-or-heavy-duty towing – Level 2
- Master tower – Level 3
The ideal thing to do would be to take the different certification courses until you acquire the third and final certification. This helps you become a well-rounded tow truck driver who can handle different types of jobs.
Start Your Preparation Right Away!
Becoming a tow truck driver is a great idea if you love hands-on work, are looking for a career with quick entry, need decent pay with overtime opportunities, and/or are interested in running a business of your own with time. If you’re ready to take this path, the good news is that you can dive in right away.
Find the right training program and invest your time and effort to ensure you come out victorious. Even after this, make sure to use continuing education materials from professional education providers like RocketCert to avoid missing out on the new developments in the sector.