NATIONAL DRIVER CERTIFICATION
TRAA is the only National Association representing the towing and recovery industry. Through a grant from the Federal Department of Transportation, TRAA established the only National Standards for tow truck operators and from these standards developed the National Driver Certification Program.

Tests include Light, Medium, and Heavy Duty Towing & Recovery in the areas of:

• Customer Service
• Safety
• Incident Management
• Truck
• Equipment

LEVEL I REQUIREMENTS
Light Duty

Level 1 Application (PDF 120k)

100 Multiple Choice Questions
1. 90 Days employment as a tow truck driver in the last five years.

2. All state driving requirements must be met.

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LEVEL II REQUIREMENTS Medium Duty

Level 2 Application (PDF 29k)

200 Multiple Choice and true/false Questions

1. One year employed as a medium/heavy duty truck towing and recovery operator (20,000 … 26,001 + GVWR)
   
2. Hold a commercial Driver’s License (CDL ABC)
   
3. Meet all driver/operator requirements of the state from which he/she is applying
   
4. Have successfully completed Level 1 of the National Driver Certification Test

Test consists of questions on the following topics:

• Professional Image and Personal Appearance
• Operator Responsibilities as a Towing and Recovery Professional
• Personal Safety Considerations
• Customer Service
• Communication Skills
• Safety at the Scene
• Safe Driving During Towing and Recovery Operations
• Proper Procedures for Vehicle Preparation for Towing and Recovery
• Accident Prevention Skills
• Types and Classifications of Towing and Recovery Equipment
• Proper Inspection/Care of Towing and Recovery Units
• Incident Management
• Special Considerations Involved in Hazmat Recoveries
• Equipment Required for Proper Operation of Various Towing and Recovery Units
• Proper Hook-up Procedures for Specialty Vehicles, medium/heavy truck, combinations
• Loading, Securing, and Unloading a Vehicle Using Carriers and Trailers
• Cargo Concerns including Loading, Securing and Unloading
• Proper Procedures for Uprighting Overturns
• Recoveries—Proper Winching Techniques

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LEVEL III Heavy Duty Recovery

Level 3 Application (PDF 38k)

REQUIREMENTS:

1. CDL with endorsements (air brakes, tank operations, etc.)
   
2. Level 2 Master Tower Certification
   
3. HazMat awareness (endorsement of HazMat can be another bar but is not required for Level 3)
   
4. 2 Years of experience as a recovery specialist,

PLUS one of the following—

1. Sponsor letter from a towing facility owner or training school verifying that the candidate is qualified to take a test of this level.
   
2. Driver’s statement of experience with documentation of experience such as logbook, resume or the like.
   
3. Company owner statement verifying that the driver has participated in at least 10 heavy recoveries.

One of the things that became abundantly clear in the development of the Level 3 test is that unlike Levels 1 and 2, there are, within the bounds of safety, several ways of doing a recovery. The Advisory Committee realized during the development of the test we would have to allow for a testing of the analytical abilities of the tow operator rather than the strictly factual approach as in Levels 1 and 2.

In order to do this it was decided that the test should be both written and oral. The written portion would determine whether or not the tower had the basic academic knowledge to be deemed a heavy recovery specialist. The oral would give him an opportunity to apply his knowledge to an actual incident which would be before him on a screen with accompanying an written description of the particulars, i.e., weather conditions, topography, actual damages, etc.

The following were the competency areas decided upon by the Advisory Committee:

• Truck and equipment capabilities
• Attachments of heavy vehicles
• Rigging
• Vehicle Placement
• Recovery formulas
• Preparation for Towing
• Weather Conditions
• Knowledge of blood-bourne pathogens
• Customer relations on the scene
• Fire potential driver should be alert to (vs. fire department responsibilities)
• Company dispatching communications
• Company team communications on the scene
• Proper maintenance of snatchblocks, etc.
• Air cushion recovery (decision making)
• Hydraulic recovery (decision making)
• Scene assessment (pre-planning)
• Unloading (upright vs. on the ground)
• HAZMAT awareness
• EPA awareness (spills, water source, clean up)
• Knowledge of the drug and alcohol regulations
• Command Center communications
• Incident Management—who’s in charge (when)
• Paperwork
  o Pricing
  o Pictures
  o Preparing invoices
  o Documentation

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NATIONAL DRIVERS CERTIFICATION PRICING

Download order form or call for more information

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