Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

What the job really is

Load and unload chemicals and bulk solids, such as coal, sand, and grain, into or from tank cars, trucks, or ships, using material moving equipment. May perform a variety of other tasks relating to shipment of products. May gauge or sample shipping tanks and test them for leaks.

At a glance

• Sector: Transportation & Material Moving
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-7121
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, and trucks.
• Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions.
• Start pumps and adjust valves or cables to regulate the flow of products to vessels, using knowledge of loading procedures.
• Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures.
• Observe positions of cars passing loading spouts, and swing spouts into the correct positions at the appropriate times.
• Monitor product movement to and from storage tanks, coordinating activities with other workers to ensure constant product flow.
• Operate ship loading and unloading equipment, conveyors, hoists, and other specialized material handling equipment such as railroad tank car unloading equipment.
• Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, gauge readings, and operating times, manually or using computers.
• Operate industrial trucks, tractors, loaders, and other equipment to transport materials to and from transportation vehicles and loading docks, and to store and retrieve materials in warehouses.
• Connect ground cables to carry off static electricity when unloading tanker cars.
• Copy and attach load specifications to loaded tanks.
• Remove and replace tank car dome caps, or direct other workers in their removal and replacement.

Tools and technology

Linux, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, SAP software, CompuWeigh GMS, Computer laser printers, Conveyor belt systems, Digital hydrometers, Distributed control system DCS, Electric hoists, Loading scales, Mechanical spray nozzles

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
• Conveyor Operators and Tenders
• Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
• Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
• Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
• Hoist and Winch Operators
• Machine Feeders and Offbearers
• Crane and Tower Operators

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.