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The differences between yard jockeys and tractor-trailer 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 tractor-trailer driver. Additionally, a tractor-trailer driver has an average salary of $58,498, 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 tractor-trailer driver are DOT, CDL, and OTR.
| Yard Jockey | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $44,440 | $58,498 |
| Hourly rate | $21.37 | $28.12 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,910 | 690,787 |
| 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.
A tractor-trailer driver is responsible for picking up and delivering goods and services from distribution centers and warehouses to different locations across the country as required. Tractor-trailer drivers manage the best route planning to prevent delays. They should also have extensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the vehicle's condition regularly, repairing any inconsistencies, and replacing defective components to ensure smooth operations. A tractor-trailer driver must have excellent communication and organizational skills, responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns and escalating complaints to management for immediate resolution.
Yard jockeys and tractor-trailer drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Yard Jockey | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average salary | $44,440 | $58,498 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $40,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, OR | Atlanta, GA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Fortune Brands Home & Security | Exel Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a yard jockey and a tractor-trailer driver in terms of educational background:
| Yard Jockey | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| 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 tractor-trailer drivers' demographics:
| Yard Jockey | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% |
| 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, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |