Which do you call it......a tow truck or a wrecker?

Tow trucks, wreckers…..the two names impy the same vehicle, but which do you call it? is its name significant with the geological locations of the U.S.? the very first tow truck or wrecker was built in Tennessee. the inventor named his invention as a “wrecker”. if this is the case, then how did tow truck come to be? Holmes wrecker.