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The differences between yard jockeys and cdl drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a yard jockey and a cdl driver. Additionally, a cdl driver has an average salary of $63,112, which is higher than the $44,440 average annual salary of a yard jockey.
The top three skills for a yard jockey include CDL, tractor trailer and work ethic. The most important skills for a cdl driver are DOT, CDL-A, and customer service.
| Yard Jockey | CDL Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $44,440 | $63,112 |
| Hourly rate | $21.37 | $30.34 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,910 | 784,044 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A yard jockey is responsible for identifying reliable and efficient equipment to support a warehouse or distribution center's daily operations, especially on manufacturing processes and delivery tasks. Yard jockeys negotiate with transportation and equipment suppliers with minimal costs but high-quality performance. They also assist in moving equipment, loading and unloading merchandise, and scheduling regular maintenance for vehicles and machinery. A yard jockey must have excellent time-management skills, as well as the ability to multitask to perform duties within the fast-paced environment under minimal supervision.
A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.
Yard jockeys and cdl drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Yard Jockey | CDL Driver | |
| Average salary | $44,440 | $63,112 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $41,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, OR | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Fortune Brands Home & Security | GCP Applied Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Retail |
There are a few differences between a yard jockey and a cdl driver in terms of educational background:
| Yard Jockey | CDL Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between yard jockeys' and cdl drivers' demographics:
| Yard Jockey | CDL Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |