Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Loader
- Loader Operator
- Tankerman
- Truck Loader
Alternate Job Titles
- Barge Loader
- Barges Loader
- Bulk Tank Car Unloader
- Car Loader
- Car Unloader
- Caustics Loader
- Coal Dumping Equipment Operator
- Dock Loader
- Load Out Person
- Loader
- Loader Operator
- Loading Operator
- Oil Movements Operator
- Pumper Gauger
- PVC Loader (Polyvinyl Chloride Loader)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Transportation
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Rate Control
- Manual Dexterity
- Far Vision
- Depth Perception
- Problem Sensitivity
- Perceptual Speed
- Static Strength
- Reaction Time
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Stress Tolerance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Independence
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Linux
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Computer laser printers
- Conveyor belt systems
- Digital hydrometers
- Electric hoists
- Loading scales
- Mechanical spray nozzles
- Mobile shiploaders
- Personal computers
- Protective respirators
- Reach trucks
- Riding pallet jacks
- Skid steers
- Stock pickers
- Tablet computers
- Walk behind pallet jacks
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Consequence of Error
- Exposed to Contaminants
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $38,260 |
| Median | $58,070 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $88,120 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 10,920
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $46,390
Conveyor Operators and Tenders
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $41,230
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $38,940
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $60,020
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $68,860
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.