Tow Motor vs Forklift: What's the Difference?
Most of the time, there's no real difference — "tow motor" is an older, informal name for a forklift, still common in manufacturing plants and union shops, especially in the Midwest. The term traces back to the Towmotor Corporation, a forklift manufacturer founded in 1919 that was later absorbed into Caterpillar's lift truck business. Like "Kleenex" for tissue, "tow motor" became genericized shop slang for a forklift, and plenty of experienced operators still use it interchangeably with "forklift" today.
That said, in some workplaces and some content online, "tow motor" gets used more narrowly to describe a different piece of equipment entirely — a tow tractor. Here's how to tell which one someone actually means.
Tow Motor or Forklift? Same Machine, Different Name
If a coworker or job posting says "tow motor operator," in most manufacturing settings they mean a forklift operator, full stop. It's regional and generational slang more than a technical distinction — you'll hear it most from operators who trained in older plants or came up through a union apprenticeship. There's no separate certification for a "tow motor" as opposed to a forklift; OSHA's powered industrial truck certification covers both, because they're the same equipment. It's a similar naming mix-up to the one we cover in lift truck vs. forklift, where a more formal term gets used for the exact same machine.
Tow Motor and Forklift Difference: When There Actually Is One
The exception is when "tow motor" is used to describe a true tow tractor — a machine built to pull carts, trailers, and pallet trains across a facility floor, rather than lift and stack pallets. A tow tractor doesn't have forks or a mast at all; its whole job is towing multiple loads behind it in one trip, which is a genuinely different function from a forklift's lift-and-stack work. If you're shopping for equipment rather than talking about job titles, this is the distinction that actually matters.
| Tow Tractor | Forklift | |
|---|---|---|
| Job function | Pulls carts and trailers across a facility floor | Lifts, stacks, and transports palletized loads |
| Forks or mast | No | Yes |
| Iron Line Tools price range | $8,958–$8,999 | $23,999–$62,999 depending on power type |
View Tow Tractors → | Electric Forklifts → | Diesel Forklifts → | LPG Forklifts → | View Forklifts →
So Which Do You Need?
If you need to move multiple carts or loaded trailers across a facility in one pass without a forklift's footprint, a tow tractor is the right equipment. If you need to lift, stack, and place palletized loads onto racking, you need a forklift — regardless of whether you or your team call it a "tow motor" out of habit. Weighing whether a telehandler might actually be the better fit for your loads instead? See our telehandler vs. forklift comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is a "tow motor" the same thing as a forklift?
A: Usually, yes. "Tow motor" is an older, informal name for a forklift, still common in manufacturing plants and union shops, especially in the Midwest.
Q: Where does the term "tow motor" come from?
A: It traces back to the Towmotor Corporation, a forklift manufacturer founded in 1919 that was later absorbed into Caterpillar's lift truck business — the name became genericized shop slang, similar to "Kleenex" for tissue.
Q: When does "tow motor" NOT mean a forklift?
A: When it's used to describe a true tow tractor — a machine built to pull carts, trailers, and pallet trains, with no forks or mast, rather than lift and stack pallets.
Q: Do tow tractors have forks or a mast?
A: No. A tow tractor's whole job is towing multiple loads behind it in one trip, which is a genuinely different function from a forklift's lift-and-stack work.
Q: Is there a separate certification for operating a "tow motor"?
A: No — OSHA's powered industrial truck certification covers both, since a "tow motor" and a forklift are the same equipment in the vast majority of cases.
Q: What's the price difference between a tow tractor and a forklift at Iron Line Tools?
A: Tow tractors run $8,958–$8,999, while forklifts range $23,999–$62,999 depending on power type — reflecting the very different jobs each machine does.
Related Reading
Lift Truck vs. Forklift: What's the Real Difference?
Telehandler vs. Forklift: What's the Real Difference?
How to Operate a Forklift Truck: Step-by-Step Guide
Electric Forklift vs. Diesel Forklift
Pallet Jack vs. Forklift: What's the Real Difference?
What Is Material Handling Equipment? A Plain-English Guide
Not sure which one fits your operation? Call Iron Line Tools at 800-698-1646 and we'll help you figure it out.