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The differences between yard jockeys and commercial 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 commercial driver. Additionally, a commercial driver has an average salary of $46,852, 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 commercial driver are customer service, CDL, and ladders.
| Yard Jockey | Commercial Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $44,440 | $46,852 |
| Hourly rate | $21.37 | $22.52 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,910 | 1,016,123 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| 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 commercial driver is responsible for transporting people, goods, and services from one place to various destinations as required. Commercial drivers must have a clean driving record to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the merchandise's quality while on the road. They should also know how to operate a vehicle's engine, inspect system defects, and repair system malfunctions to prevent any delays in transportation and deliveries. A commercial driver must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and report any problems to management.
Yard jockeys and commercial drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Yard Jockey | Commercial Driver | |
| Average salary | $44,440 | $46,852 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $35,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, OR | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | Fortune Brands Home & Security | Laramie County Community College |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a yard jockey and a commercial driver in terms of educational background:
| Yard Jockey | Commercial Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between yard jockeys' and commercial drivers' demographics:
| Yard Jockey | Commercial Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% |
| 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, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |