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The differences between yard jockeys and transportation 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 transportation driver. Additionally, a yard jockey has an average salary of $44,440, which is higher than the $43,236 average annual salary of a transportation driver.
The top three skills for a yard jockey include CDL, tractor trailer and work ethic. The most important skills for a transportation driver are CDL, DOT, and tractor trailer.
| Yard Jockey | Transportation Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $44,440 | $43,236 |
| Hourly rate | $21.37 | $20.79 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,910 | 1,006,562 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| 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 transportation driver is responsible for transporting people and goods from one place to another. A transportation driver must have a clean driving record to operate vehicles carefully and efficiently. Transportation drivers must ensure that the passengers are safe and comfortable during the trip and that goods are in proper condition to avoid damage and defects. They should strictly adhere to the transport schedules and assigned routes to avoid delays of operations. A transportation driver should also understand maintenance basics of vehicles to perform repair and reconditioning of any engine malfunction.
Yard jockeys and transportation drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Yard Jockey | Transportation Driver | |
| Average salary | $44,440 | $43,236 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $26,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, OR | Cheyenne, WY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Fortune Brands Home & Security | West Tennessee Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between a yard jockey and a transportation driver in terms of educational background:
| Yard Jockey | Transportation 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 transportation drivers' demographics:
| Yard Jockey | Transportation Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% |
| 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, 12.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |