Tow truck driver
Also called tow trucker, tow truck operator
Tow truck drivers transport vehicles that are damaged, broken down, brand-new or immobilized by public authorities by operating a tow truck. They offer a variety of services such as emergency towing on the road or for police impoundment. Tow truck drivers operate towing equipment, arrange itineraries, and ensure safety during the entire transportation process.
What you'd do
Heavy truck and lorry drivers · ILO- Driving and tending a heavy motor vehicle, such as a lorry with or without trailer or a dump-truck, to transport goods, liquids or heavy materials over short or long distances
- Determining the most appropriate routes
- Ensuring goods are stowed and securely covered, to prevent loss and damage
- Assisting with or carrying out loading or unloading operations, using various lifting or tipping devices
- Carrying out minor maintenance to vehicles, and arranging major maintenance and repairs
- Estimating weights to comply with load limitations, and ensuring the safe distribution of weights
Will there be jobs?
Yes, good prospects18 EU countries are short of heavy truck and lorry drivers now, but fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
What does it pay?
About averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,100 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among plant and machine operators, and assemblers in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Plant and machine operators, and assemblers · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Upper secondary or vocationalUpper secondary or vocational training in transport services is the usual route.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
LittleAI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.
Average task score 0.24 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for heavy truck and lorry drivers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).