Tow Truck Driver

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Mechanic Recovery [Army]

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Service or PersuadingPractical or MechanicalClerical or OrganisingSkill Level 2Skill Level 3

Tow truck operators use specially equipped trucks to move vehicles that have broken down; have been damaged in accidents, abandoned, or impounded by the police; or cannot be driven for some other reason. Operators work for towing companies, service stations, or automobile salvage companies.

Tow Truck Drivers drive tow trucks requiring a specially endorsed class of licence, to transport broken-down motor vehicles. A tow truck driver removes broken down or crashed vehicles from the roadway. Tow truck drivers require a police clearance. FutureGrowthModerate

ANZSCO ID:
733115

Specialisations:
Mechanic Recovery (Army) [or Recovery Mechanic]

Alternative names:
Tow Truck Operator

Knowledge, skills and attributes

  • A commercial driver’s license
  • At least one year of commercial driving experience
  • Strong communication and time management skills
  • Basic mechanical skills
  • Attention to detail when documenting work - good at record-keeping
  • Physical strength and stamina
  • Honest and reliable
  • Calm, helpful and diplomatic when dealing with customers
  • Efficient and able to work well under pressure
  • Wear protective clothing at all times when driving or operating a tow truck
  • The ability to operate a tow truck safely and tow vehicles without damaging them
  • An understanding of the locking mechanisms of different types of vehicles
  • Basic mechanical skills to fix minor mechanical problems or release handbrakes
  • Knowledge of their local area

Tow Truck towing
(Source: Autoguru)

Duties and tasks

  • Receiving communications from company dispatcher.
  • Travels to scene of accident, illegal parking or other situation requiring towing
  • Respond to accidents, break-downs, and other roadside incidents
  • Interacting with the customer to find out the nature of the problem
  • Performing roadside vehicle diagnostics
  • Performing minor repairs
  • Jump-starting vehicles, changing tyres and reconnecting vehicle parts
  • Suggesting a course of action
  • Attaches towing equipment to vehicle or winches vehicle onto tilt-deck winch- truck - attach cables, chains or other equipment and winch the vehicle to towing elevation or onto the truck flatbed
  • Connect any necessary lights to the back of the vehicle
  • Tows vehicle to depot or other location [wrecker's yard or scrapyard]
  • Stay in contact with motorists when you are en route
  • Perform basic repairs or tow their vehicle to a garage
  • Safely load cars onto the back of their truck
  • Keep their truck clean and in good condition
  • Remove illegally parked vehicles
  • Carries out winching and heavy salvage
  • Remove any debris caused by, or relating to, the motor vehicle being towed unless otherwise directed by a police officer
  • When attending the scene of a motor vehicle accident, they must comply with any reasonable direction given to them by an authorised officer, police officer or emergency services officer who is present at the scene and is exercising his or her official duties
  • Maintains and repairs equipment
  • Keeps records - completed paperwork in terms of call logs, battery invoices and cash receipts
  • Reporting to base and completing paperwork
  • Provide Police Impound Insurance tows through Central Dispatch
  • Honouring service contracts for car dealerships by providing road side service 24 hours/day

 

Tow Truck in snow
(Source: Zip Recruiter)

 

Working conditions

Tow truck operators:

  • usually do shift work, including nights or weekends, and are not allowed to work for more than 13 hours in one day or 70 hours in one week
  • work from their truck and depot, and outside on roadsides and in parking lots
  • work in conditions that can be dangerous, such as accident scenes and busy roads.

Tow truck drivers may be called out at all hours of the night and in bad weather.

Tow truck drivers hook up heavy machinery and vehicles to trucks daily, putting them at risk for many physical injuries including:

* Back and neck injuries
* Musculoskeletal injuries
* Repetitive stress injuries
* Strains and sprains

Tow truck drivers may also be seriously or fatally injured outside of their vehicle. Drivers typically load vehicles onto the tow truck on the side of the road, where they are at risk of being hit by oncoming traffic. Another hazard of the job is workplace assault – irate car owners may become violent with tow truck drivers as their vehicles are being prepared to be towed away.

Tow truck drivers are often called to the scene of horrific accidents. However, unlike fire fighters, police officers and other first responders, they do not have access to formal mental or emotional support systems.

Tools and Technologies

A tow truck operator may drive one of three kinds of trucks. Conventional tow trucks are equipped with a hook and sling that the operators use to raise one end of a disabled vehicle for towing. Operators of wheel-lift or full-float trucks use winches to lift cars and place support wheels under one or both axles for towing. Flatbed trucks are used for transporting more expensive cars. Operators lower the truck beds to the ground, winch disabled vehicles onto the beds, and then raise the beds for driving.

In all cases, operators may attach steering locks, chains, or lights to disabled vehicles so they can be moved safely.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a Tow Truck Driver without formal qualifications. Some States require driver certification. Some on the job training may be provided. A certificate III or IV in driving operations might be helpful.

Employment Opportunities

Tow truck operators may progress into management roles or set up their own tow truck business.

They may also move into other transport-related jobs, such as heavy truck driving.

Did You Know?

Mater
(Source: FanPop)

Sir Tow Mater KG, most commonly referred to as Tow Mater or simply Mater, is one of the main characters in Cars and its sequels, Cars 2 and Cars 3 as well as Cars Toons. He is voiced by Larry the Cable Guy and inspired by a 1956–57 International Harvester Tow truck and 1955-1957 Chevrolet Task Force.

Portrayed as Holley Shiftwell's boyfriend and best friend
; and,, Lightning McQueen's best friend and sidekick, he had a breakout role in Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales and in other media related to Cars.

Mater's Funniest Moments! | Pixar Cars
https://youtu.be/h3fKFocGkkk



Recovery Mechanic [Army]
Transport and Travel

Service or PersuadingPractical or Mechanical

A Recovery Mechanic (Mechanic Recovery) serves in the Corps of the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME). They experience the unique adventures and challenges that come with providing recovery support to Army’s vehicles and equipment, whenever they have become bogged, broken down, damaged or disabled. They are responsible for the salvage, recovery and towing of the Army's vehicles and equipment when they become bogged, broken down, damaged or disabled. The Recovery Mechanic operates a variety of specialist trucks and armoured (tracked and wheeled) recovery vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with winches, towing equipment and cranes.

 You need to be quick-thinking, confident and enjoy being hands-on – with your expertise as a Recovery Mechanic being in high demand, to aid in the overall battlefield effort. You will receive world-class training so you are able to recover all types of Defence Material, utilising state of the art medium and heavy recovery vehicles, including leading edge, specialised tracked and wheeled armoured recovery vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with winches, towing equipment and cranes.

Recovery Mechanics are employed at bases across Australia and can be deployed operations around the world.

ANZSCO ID: 441111

Knowledge, skills and attributes      

  • able to cope with the physical demands of the job
  • enjoy technical work
  • good interpersonal and communication skills
  • good organisation skills
  • meet aptitude and medical requirements
  • at least 17 years of age
  • Australian citizenship

 

Recovery Mechanic   
(Source: Defence Jobs)

Duties and Tasks

  • Interpret and maintain technical documentation.
  • Provide technical maintenance of Army’s Lifting, Recovery and Tie-Down Equipment.
  • Use recovery vehicles and equipment along with your training in recovery theory to work out how to retrieve/extricate immobile manoeuvre assets (wheeled and tracked). This may involve the use of winches, cranes, gas cutting equipment and even explosives to get the job done.
  • AAbility to work independently or as a small team leader for extensive hours in high tempo conditions in combat, non-combat and peacetime operations.
  • Provide assistance over rough going and/or boggy terrain in order to keep the fighting force advancing towards the objective.
  • Help to recover damaged vehicles and rescue stranded soldiers
  • Work at the centre of the action
  • Use cranes, lifting gear and training in mechanical theory to work out how to retrieve immobile vehicles
  • To keep the fighting forces moving forwards

Education and training/entrance requirements

Completion of Australian Year 10 education (or equivalent) with passes in English and Mathematics. To be enlisted or appointed, you must be medically and physically fit for entry to your chosen occupation. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You will also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness test before appointment.

All applicants must hold a current provisional/probationary drivers licence. If a candidate has a civilian licence that is under suspension or has been cancelled, they will not be eligible to enlist into this role until such time that the suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.

The application process to join the Australian Defence Force requires you to complete a series of aptitude tests which may include verbal, spatial and numerical ability and a general maths test. Some jobs may also require you to complete additional testing at a later date.

Psychology support staff will explain what is involved with each test.

The aptitude tests provide information about your suitability for the Defence Force and for particular jobs.

Employment Opportunities

Recruitment to the Australian Defence Force is conducted on an Australia-wide basis all year round.

 

 

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Material sourced from
CareersOnline [Army Soldier Tradesperson;]
Zip Recruiter [Tow Truck Driver; ]
Better Team [Tow Truck Operator; ]
HG Legal Resources [Tow Truck Drivers and Mental Stress;]
Work Chron [Tow Truck Worker; ]
Job Hero [Tow Truck Driver; ]
Fair Trading NSW [Tow Truck Diver Info Sheet;]
Defence Jobs [Recovery Mechanic; Reserves; ]
Careers State University [Tow Truck Operator; ]
Wintec [Tow Truck Operator; ]
UK Army [Recovery Mechanic; ]

Your Career [Tow Truck Driver; Defence Force Member - Other Rank; ]

 


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