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The differences between yard jockeys and over the road 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 an over the road driver. Additionally, an over the road driver has an average salary of $62,119, 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 an over the road driver are CDL, PET, and post-trip inspections.
| Yard Jockey | Over The Road Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $44,440 | $62,119 |
| Hourly rate | $21.37 | $29.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,910 | 711,143 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| 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.
Over the road, (OTR) drivers are the truckers driving the big semi-trailer truck that hauls all types of goods to their destinations across the states. Their journey typically begins with loading the freight onto the trailer, requiring them to lift heavy materials and load the cargo properly to avoid shifting while in transit. They often sleep in the sleeper berth at a truck stop to eat, freshen up and refuel. They are allowed to go on a 30-minute break after an eight-hour drive.
Yard jockeys and over the road drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Yard Jockey | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average salary | $44,440 | $62,119 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $43,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, OR | Camden, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Fortune Brands Home & Security | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a yard jockey and an over the road driver in terms of educational background:
| Yard Jockey | Over The Road Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between yard jockeys' and over the road drivers' demographics:
| Yard Jockey | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |