to drive the getaway truck

[azz]

a. He was their man to drive the getaway truck.

b. He was the man to drive the getaway truck.

Could these mean
He was the member of their group/the man assigned to the task of driving the getaway truck.
?

Could they have any other meanings?

Many thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

Just like your other question about the man who repairs bikes, it could​ mean that but the context would have to be very clear.

 

[Tdol]

The first could mean that some wanted him to drive the getaway while others supported another driver.

 

[Skrej]

The first could also mean that at least two groups are working together on the robbery, and that the getaway driver was from their group.

 

[azz]

Thank you all so much.

Hello Skrej, I am not sure I can follow your reasoning. Are you saying that both groups had a getaway driver and he was from the group we are talking about, or that only one group had a getaway driver and we are saying which group he belonged to? I can't get the latter reading from the sentence... Maybe there is something I can't see... I have been thinking about this for some time now.

Many thanks.

 

[Skrej]

Without additional context, we can't say for sure. Both of your suggestions are possible.

All we know for certain is that there is some reason for that possessive adjective 'their'. Apparently there there are circumstances which make it necessary to emphasize which team the driver was a member of.