# Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

> 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 53-7121.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Loader
- Loader Operator
- Tankerman
- Truck Loader
- Load Out Person
- Loading Operator
- Oil Movements Operator
- PVC Loader (Polyvinyl Chloride Loader)
- Rail Car Loader
- Tank Car Loader
- Barge Loader
- Barges Loader

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, and trucks. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.d |
| Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions. | Core | 4.A.2.a.2.a |
| Connect ground cables to carry off static electricity when unloading tanker cars. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.ah |
| Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.e |
| Start pumps and adjust valves or cables to regulate the flow of products to vessels, using knowledge of loading procedures. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.b |
| Observe positions of cars passing loading spouts, and swing spouts into the correct positions at the appropriate times. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.b |
| Monitor product movement to and from storage tanks, coordinating activities with other workers to ensure constant product flow. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.b |
| Copy and attach load specifications to loaded tanks. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.1.a |
| Remove and replace tank car dome caps, or direct other workers in their removal and replacement. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.d |
| Operate ship loading and unloading equipment, conveyors, hoists, and other specialized material handling equipment such as railroad tank car unloading equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.h |
| Test samples for specific gravity, using hydrometers, or send samples to laboratories for testing. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Test vessels for leaks, damage, and defects, and repair or replace defective parts as necessary. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.g |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Verify information or specifications. | 4.A.2.a.2.a |
| Monitor vehicle movement or location. | 4.A.1.a.2.b |
| Position material handling equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.v |
| Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.h |
| Monitor loading processes to ensure they are performed properly. | 4.A.1.a.2.b |
| Communicate with others to coordinate material handling or movement. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Inspect cargo areas for cleanliness or condition. | 4.A.1.b.2.e |
| Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment. | 4.A.3.a.4.a |
| Connect cables or electrical lines. | 4.A.3.a.2.ah |
| Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.d |
| Test materials, solutions, or samples. | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Direct maintenance or repair activities. | 4.A.4.b.4.j |
| Measure the level or depth of water or other liquids. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Clean vessels or marine equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Operate conveyors or other industrial material moving equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Inspect material-moving equipment to detect problems. | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Maintain material moving equipment in good working condition. | 4.A.3.b.4.e |
| Connect hoses to equipment or machinery. | 4.A.3.a.2.ah |
| Mark materials or objects for identification. | 4.A.1.b.1.a |
| Control pumps or pumping equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.b |
| Weigh materials to ensure compliance with specifications. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Monitor availability of equipment or supplies. | 4.A.4.c.3.g |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.88 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3.88 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.75 |
| Rate Control | ability | 3.75 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.62 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.62 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 3.62 |
| Static Strength | ability | 3.62 |
| Depth Perception | ability | 3.62 |
| Transportation | knowledge | 3.53 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.5 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.38 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.3 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.27 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.25 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 3.15 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.12 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.12 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3.12 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3.12 |
| Stamina | ability | 3.12 |
| Extent Flexibility | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3 |
| Visualization | ability | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Linux | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Linux | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |
| Warehouse management system WMS | Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software | no | yes |
| CompuWeigh GMS | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Distributed control system DCS | Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.94 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.84 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 4.76 |
| Consequence of Error | 4.74 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.73 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 4.65 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.61 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.58 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.52 |
| Contact With Others | 4.47 |
| Time Pressure | 4.47 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.46 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 4.45 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.4 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.39 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.31 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 4.27 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 4.24 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 4.22 |
| Exposed to High Places | 4.2 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 4.18 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.15 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 4.07 |
| E-Mail | 3.97 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.92 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 3.91 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.89 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.8 |
| Conflict Situations | 3.71 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.67 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 3.67 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.62 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 3.6 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 3.56 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.49 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.46 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.14 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.09 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 3.05 |
| In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment | 2.97 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 81.42 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 12.01 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 3.89 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 1.76 |
| Some College Courses | 0.91 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.96 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 6.32 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 6.18 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.77 |
| Dependability | work_style | 3 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 2.58 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.31 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 2.22 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 1.98 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 1.88 |
| Integrity | work_style | 1.6 |
| Accounting | specific_interest_area | 1.37 |
| Protective Service | specific_interest_area | 1.36 |
| Agriculture | specific_interest_area | 1.36 |
| Stress Tolerance | work_style | 1.35 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 1.3 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 53-7051.00 | role-53-7051-00 | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | Primary-Short |
| 53-7011.00 | role-53-7011-00 | Conveyor Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 53-7062.00 | role-53-7062-00 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | Primary-Short |
| 53-7072.00 | role-53-7072-00 | Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | Primary-Short |
| 47-5044.00 | role-47-5044-00 | Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | Primary-Short |
| 53-7041.00 | role-53-7041-00 | Hoist and Winch Operators | Primary-Long |
| 53-7063.00 | role-53-7063-00 | Machine Feeders and Offbearers | Primary-Long |
| 53-7021.00 | role-53-7021-00 | Crane and Tower Operators | Primary-Long |
| 47-5022.00 | role-47-5022-00 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | Primary-Long |
| 49-3042.00 | role-49-3042-00 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | Primary-Long |
| 51-8093.00 | role-51-8093-00 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | Supplemental |
| 53-3032.00 | role-53-3032-00 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Supply Chain & Transportation | supply-chain-transportation |

## Education Level

- **Category:** No formal educational credential

## Study Programs


## Market

- **Median Wage:** 58070
- **Mean Wage:** 60010
- **Pct10Wage:** 38260
- **Pct25Wage:** 47260
- **Pct75Wage:** 71230
- **Pct90Wage:** 88120
- **Employment:** 10920
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 6840 | 60190 | 13.07 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 1840 | 57150 | 2.04 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 960 | 44160 | 2.25 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 370 | 62340 | 9.11 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 340 | 44420 | 0.53 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 220 | 33320 | 1.17 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 120 | 59270 | 0.21 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector |  | 37960 |  |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector |  | 44020 |  |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector |  | 50540 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 6840 | 13.07 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 370 | 9.11 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 960 | 2.25 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 1840 | 2.04 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 220 | 1.17 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 340 | 0.53 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 120 | 0.21 |
- **Count:** 10

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.72 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -1.38776 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -1.098081 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -1.403185 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 13
- **Percentile:** 9
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 7 | felten_aioe |
| 10 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 23 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -1.38776 | 7 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.07142857142857142 | 10 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.07991824525021723 | 23 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.72
- **Percentile:** 59
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.07142857142857142
- **Beta:** 0.07142857142857142
- **Gamma:** 0.07142857142857142

### Usage Tasks


### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 4.3
- **Growth Percentile:** 67
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 1.3
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 20
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 12
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 12.5

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 19
- **Skills:** 33
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 7
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** a6a362fbcb62a2c3