Flatbed Tow Truck Driver · Full-time or Part-time · Based in Linden, NJ · · $22–$30/hr base + commission · Posted September 20, 2026 · Open through 2026-12-31
What a flatbed driver does at The NJ Towing Service
A flatbed operator moves cars that cannot or should not roll on their own wheels: all-wheel-drive and electric vehicles, low and luxury cars, accident damage, non-runners, dealer transfers and long-distance runs. You load with the deck down and the winch, strap at four wheels, check the straps in the first mile, and deliver to the shop, dealer, body shop or driveway the customer chose. Most days are a mix of emergency calls and scheduled tows; a few are recoveries where the flatbed is the second truck on scene.
Dispatch runs 24 hours a day from Linden. A dispatcher takes the call, quotes the customer one flat price before anything moves, and sends the nearest available truck. You get the pickup, the destination, the vehicle and the customer's number on your phone; you call the customer when you are a few minutes out; you photograph the vehicle before and after; the receipt goes out itemized. No upselling on scene, no surprise fees, and you never quote a price yourself. That is the whole system, and it is why customers call back.
A typical shift on the rollback
You start at the Linden yard with a walk-around, the straps counted and the winch checked. The first call is usually a commuter car that would not start in a driveway in Rahway or Cranford, going to a shop on Route 27. Mid-morning is dealer row on Route 22 or Route 1: a transfer between stores, or a trade-in headed to auction. Afternoons bring the highway work: a blown tire on Routes 1 & 9 in Elizabeth, an AWD car off I-78 in Springfield that must not be dragged, a Tesla at the Metropark garage with no charge. Nights on the board are accident tows, lockout-turned-tows, and the long runs to the shore or Philadelphia that pay by the mile.
Every job is quoted before it is dispatched, so you never argue about money on the shoulder. Every job is photographed, so you never argue about a scratch. The driver who calls the customer when he is five minutes out and gets the car on the deck in fifteen is the driver whose customers ask for him by name.
Where you will drive
The territory is the 45-minute circle around Linden: Union County first, then Middlesex, Essex and Hudson, out to Somerset, Morris, Monmouth, Bergen and Passaic. You will learn the Turnpike exits from 9 to 16, the Parkway from 105 to 159, Routes 1 & 9, 22, 27 and 35, I-78, I-280 and I-287, and the local streets in 163 towns. On the Turnpike and Parkway the shoulder belongs to the Authority's authorized garages; our trucks meet those cars at the exit or in the garage's lot and take them from there.
Pay, schedule and what the company provides
This is an employee position on a company truck. We provide the flatbed, fuel, insurance, straps, skates, dollies and lockout tools, a phone app for dispatch and photos, uniform shirts and a safety vest. You bring the license, the record and the judgment.
What you will do
- Respond to dispatched calls across the 45-minute territory and reach the customer inside the window the dispatcher quoted.
- Load vehicles on the flatbed with the winch and skates as needed, strap at four wheels, and check straps after the first mile.
- Tow AWD, electric, luxury, lowered and non-running vehicles without damage; know when a wheel-lift is the wrong tool.
- Photograph every vehicle before loading and after unloading and record the job in the dispatch app.
- Call the customer when you are a few minutes out; explain what you are doing on scene in plain language.
- Deliver to the shop, dealer, body shop or driveway the customer chose; leave keys the way the shop asked.
- Keep the truck clean, fueled and inspected; report defects the same shift.
- Work highway shoulders with the amber bar on, cones out and the truck positioned between the customer and traffic; on the Turnpike and Parkway, meet the car at the exit or the authorized garage's lot.
What you need
- Valid driver's license from New Jersey or a neighboring state, at least 21 years old, with a clean motor vehicle record for the past three years.
- Able to obtain a DOT medical card; a CDL is not required for our light-duty rollbacks but is a plus.
- One year or more of flatbed or rollback experience preferred; strong candidates without it are trained on our trucks with a senior driver.
- Comfortable using a winch, skates and dollies, and strapping a vehicle correctly at four points.
- Able to lift 75 pounds, work outdoors in all weather and kneel on a shoulder next to traffic safely.
- Clear, polite communication with customers who are having a bad day, in person and on the phone.
- Able to pass a background check and a pre-employment drug screen.
- Smartphone for the dispatch app; we pay a monthly stipend.
Nice to have
- WreckMaster or TRAA certification
- Experience with EV transport mode and low-clearance loading
- Spanish, Portuguese or Polish
- Familiarity with the Port Newark–Elizabeth corridor and the Route 22 dealer row
Pay and schedule
$22 to $30 per hour base depending on experience, plus a per-call commission on every completed tow, paid weekly. Nights, weekends and holidays pay a shift differential. With commission, full-time flatbed operators typically earn $55,000 to $75,000 a year; the base is set on the first call from your record and experience.
Full-time and part-time shifts on a 24-hour board: days, nights, weekends and an on-call rotation. Tell us the shifts you can cover and we build the schedule around the board, not the other way around.
What we provide
- Company flatbed, fuel and insurance
- Straps, skates, dollies and lockout tools
- Dispatch app and phone stipend
- Uniform shirts and high-visibility vest
- Paid training with a senior operator
How to apply
Two ways. Call or text (908) 444-0129 and ask for hiring; the dispatcher takes your details and hiring calls you back, usually the same day. Or use the form below and we call you.
The NJ Towing Service is an equal opportunity employer. We consider every qualified applicant without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, New Jersey or local law. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. Hiring decisions are based on qualifications, driving record, and the needs of the dispatch board.