Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between yard jockeys and van 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 van driver. Additionally, a yard jockey has an average salary of $44,440, which is higher than the $36,254 average annual salary of a van driver.
The top three skills for a yard jockey include CDL, tractor trailer and work ethic. The most important skills for a van driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
| Yard Jockey | Van Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $44,440 | $36,254 |
| Hourly rate | $21.37 | $17.43 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,910 | 791,293 |
| 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 van driver is responsible for operating a wide and a larger-sized vehicle than a regular car, usually used as a company shuttle to pick up and drop employees to designated areas. Van drivers should have a clean driving record, ensuring the safety and comfortability of the passengers while on the road. They should also be familiar with the location, considering alternative routes for any road complications to avoid delays. A van driver must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the engine's condition, and perform repairs as necessary.
Yard jockeys and van drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Yard Jockey | Van Driver | |
| Average salary | $44,440 | $36,254 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $24,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, OR | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Fortune Brands Home & Security | DVFSchool |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a yard jockey and a van driver in terms of educational background:
| Yard Jockey | Van 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 van drivers' demographics:
| Yard Jockey | Van Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |