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The differences between yard jockeys and driver/owner operators 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 driver/owner operator. Additionally, a driver/owner operator has an average salary of $169,793, 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 driver/owner operator are CDL, DOT, and OTR.
| Yard Jockey | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $44,440 | $169,793 |
| Hourly rate | $21.37 | $81.63 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,910 | 170,784 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| 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.
Driver/owner-operators are self-employed commercial truck drivers who operate trucks to transport goods for their customers. Most of these operators started working as drivers for trucking companies to gain experience and decide if it's the right career path for them. They are allowed to haul freelance or agree to a lease agreement dedicating their equipment to one product or customer. To become an owner-operator, one should consider many things, including business set-up, vehicle type, and licenses.
Yard jockeys and driver/owner operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Yard Jockey | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Average salary | $44,440 | $169,793 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $69,000 And $417,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, OR | Savannah, GA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Texas |
| Best paying company | Fortune Brands Home & Security | Clean Harbors |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Energy |
There are a few differences between a yard jockey and a driver/owner operator in terms of educational background:
| Yard Jockey | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between yard jockeys' and driver/owner operators' demographics:
| Yard Jockey | Driver/Owner Operator | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| 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, 12.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 3.8% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |