What does a Yard Jockey do?

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.
Yard jockey responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real yard jockey resumes:
- Assemble tire orders for loaders.
- Used RF gun to scan merchandise.
- Monitor crane operators and remove IBC from freights.
- Train new hires and new cdl holders on the road operation.
- Pick up and delivery of freight of all kinds including hazmat.
- Train new hires and new cdl holders on company policies and procedures.
- Set up promotional materials (POS, jockey-boxes, service stations).
- Premier transportation buy the contract from Werner for the home depot distribution center
- Enter trailer and location information into warehouse management system via handheld RF unit.
- make local deliveries and pick ups in a safe professional manner within dot guidelines.
- Follow HAZMAT regulations correctly by choosing correct placards and installing them on the trailers.
- Conduct weekly shrink audits to ensure minimal product loss and Haz-Mat and OSHA compliance is met.
- Separate tube tires from wheels, using rubber mallets and metal bars or mechanical tire changers.
- Provide accurate pallet configurations and product picking.
- Train and mentor new yard drivers and spotters while ensuring compliance with all company policies and OSHA regulations.
Yard jockey skills and personality traits
We calculated that 30% of Yard Jockeys are proficient in CDL, Tractor Trailer, and Work Ethic. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Hand-eye coordination, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Yard Jockeys that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CDL, 30%
Operate backhoe for 4 years and drove Tractor trailers in small yard no CDL was required
- Tractor Trailer, 17%
Switch tractors and trailers around, back trailers to docks and deliver product via tractor trailer to Charlotte, NC
- Work Ethic, 7%
Achieved employee of the month various times for my work ethic and safety accomplishments.
- Dock Doors, 7%
Back trailers up to dock doors also operate large box trucks with air brakes or small box trucks with standard brakes.
- Customer Service, 5%
Assisted contractors and consumers at busy lumberyard providing courteous customer service.
- Pallets, 5%
Provided accurate pallet configurations and product picking.
Most yard jockeys use their skills in "cdl," "tractor trailer," and "work ethic" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential yard jockey responsibilities here:
Hand-eye coordination. Many yard jockey duties rely on hand-eye coordination. "drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers must be able to coordinate their legs, hands, and eyes simultaneously so that they will react appropriately to the situation around them and drive the vehicle safely.," so a yard jockey will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways yard jockey responsibilities rely on hand-eye coordination: "promoted to the line haul coordination team to supervise over the road line drivers in california, nevada and southern oregon. "
The three companies that hire the most yard jockeys are:
- UUS Foods592 yard jockeys jobs
- LLazer Spot580 yard jockeys jobs
- PPremier Transportation80 yard jockeys jobs
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Yard jockey vs. Driver/owner operator
Driver/owner-operators are self-employed commercial truck drivers who operate trucks to transport goods for their customers. Most of these operators started working as drivers for trucking companies to gain experience and decide if it's the right career path for them. They are allowed to haul freelance or agree to a lease agreement dedicating their equipment to one product or customer. To become an owner-operator, one should consider many things, including business set-up, vehicle type, and licenses.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, yard jockey responsibilities require skills like "tractor trailer," "work ethic," "dock doors," and "strong work ethic." Meanwhile a typical driver/owner operator has skills in areas such as "dot," "pet," "hazmat," and "traffic violations." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Driver/owner operators earn the highest salaries when working in the energy industry, with an average yearly salary of $155,268. On the other hand, yard jockeys are paid more in the transportation industry with an average salary of $46,844.The education levels that driver/owner operators earn slightly differ from yard jockeys. In particular, driver/owner operators are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a yard jockey. Additionally, they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Yard jockey vs. Owner/operator
Owners/operators manage the business in all aspects, especially in those related to operations. They ensure that every aspect of the business is running smoothly. They oversee finance, marketing, logistics, sales, and even the human resources of the whole organization. They set business goals, create action plans to achieve them, and make sure that the plans are followed through. They set strategic direction and make business decisions that would be the most beneficial to the organization. They ensure that the business has enough funds to continue operating and that the quality of the products and services they offer continuously improve.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real yard jockey resumes. While yard jockey responsibilities can utilize skills like "tractor trailer," "work ethic," "dock doors," and "strong work ethic," owner/operators use skills like "pet," "payroll," "human resources," and "windows."
Owner/operators may earn a higher salary than yard jockeys, but owner/operators earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $168,776. On the other hand, yard jockeys receive higher pay in the transportation industry, where they earn an average salary of $46,844.owner/operators earn similar levels of education than yard jockeys in general. They're 4.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Yard jockey vs. Cdl driver
A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, yard jockeys are more likely to have skills like "cdl," "tractor trailer," "dock doors," and "strong work ethic." But a cdl driver is more likely to have skills like "dot," "cdl-a," "pet," and "hazmat."
Cdl drivers earn the best pay in the retail industry, where they command an average salary of $63,457. Yard jockeys earn the highest pay from the transportation industry, with an average salary of $46,844.Most cdl drivers achieve a similar degree level compared to yard jockeys. For example, they're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Yard jockey vs. Professional driver
A professional driver is responsible for offering driving services as a way of living. Professional drivers are often employed by a company or private household, transporting the employees and clients from one location to another with the utmost safety and comfortability. To be a professional driver, one must have a valid professional driver's license, as well as a clean driving record for efficient job completion. A professional driver should also have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on inspecting the vehicle's engine and conducting repairs as needed to avoid any delays in services.
Types of yard jockey
Updated January 8, 2025