Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between yard jockeys and truck drivers class a 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 truck driver class a. Additionally, a truck driver class a has an average salary of $63,270, 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 truck driver class a are CDL, PET, and OTR.
| Yard Jockey | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Yearly salary | $44,440 | $63,270 |
| Hourly rate | $21.37 | $30.42 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,910 | 709,900 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| 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.
The responsibilities of a Truck Driver Class A mainly revolves around driving heavy vehicles and ensuring that all transported goods meet the expected delivery deadlines and quality. The Driver needs to have a Class A license and be emotionally and physically healthy to qualify. Among the duties of a Truck Driver Class A will also revolve around securing and monitoring the quantity and quality of items, maintaining the vehicle in good condition, abide by the traffic rules and regulations, adhere to the company standards and policies, and have precise coordination with every workforce involved.
Yard jockeys and truck drivers class a have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Yard Jockey | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Average salary | $44,440 | $63,270 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $43,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, OR | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Fortune Brands Home & Security | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a yard jockey and a truck driver class a in terms of educational background:
| Yard Jockey | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between yard jockeys' and truck drivers class a' demographics:
| Yard Jockey | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| 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, 13.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 3.5% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |