Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

Tank car, truck, and ship loaders pump liquids from storage tanks to vehicles.

One of the first duties of loaders is to connect ground cables to carry away static electricity during unloading. Then, loaders inspect the storage tanks on vehicles, attach hoses, and pump the liquids.

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders are in the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics career cluster and the Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations pathway.

Quick Facts

Source: Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and CareerOneStop.

Wages & Outlook

Wages

Wages vary by employer, area of the country, and type of vehicle loaded. The loader's level of experience, skill, and responsibility also affect wages. In general, tank car, truck, and ship loaders who belong to a union earn higher wages.

Tank car, truck, and ship loaders who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Some employers also provide a retirement plan.

View the Regional Wage Comparison Chart for:

• Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

 

Employment

In Minnesota, about 85 tank car, truck, and ship loaders work in this very small occupation.

Major employers:

• Water transportation companies
• Local and long distance trucking companies
• Warehousing and storage companies
• Petroleum and coal product manufacturers

Outlook

Outlook varies by industry. Strong demand for loaders is expected in the warehousing industry. Employment in most other industries is expected to decline.

Regardless of the growth rate for tank car, truck, and ship loaders, some job openings will occur as current workers leave this occupation.

Employment Outlook for Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

	Employment		Employment Change
	2010	2020	Number	Percent
U S	10,400	10,600	200	1.9%
Northwest Minnesota	13	13	0	0%

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.

On the Job

Overview

Tank car, truck, and ship loaders pump liquids from storage tanks to vehicles.


Did you ever watch an old detective movie from the 1950s? Many of them had scenes set at the docks because that is where the bad guys often did their shady dealings. In these scenes you'd often see a crane loading boxes onto ships. Ship loaders were the people operating these cranes.One of the first duties of loaders is to connect ground cables to carry away static electricity during unloading. Then, loaders inspect the storage tanks on vehicles to make sure they are clean. They attach hoses to these tanks and pump compressed air into the tanks holding the liquid to be moved. The air forces the liquid out of the main storage tank and into the vehicles' tanks. Loaders control the rate at which liquids are transferred. They coordinate with other workers to make sure products flow at a constant rate. To make some liquids easier to transfer, operators use blenders and heaters to blend or heat them.

Once tanks are full, loaders test them for leaks. They also take and test samples, or send samples to labs for testing. In addition, they outlet valves on tank cars, barges, or trucks. If these valves do not work correctly, loaders repair or replace defective parts. Loaders check the content, temperature, and volume of the liquid load by reading meters. They correct problems by adjusting cooling controls or reducing the amount of liquid.

Loaders have administrative tasks. They make sure the numbers on tank cars, barges, or truckloads match the instructions they receive. This ensures that products are loaded into or from the proper vehicles. They also copy information about the load and attach it to the tanks. In addition, loaders keep records of the types and amounts of products pumped. They also record gauge readings and how long it takes to load or unload vehicles.

Work Activities

The following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career.

• Connect ground cables to carry off static electricity when unloading tanker cars.
• Inspect containers to be sure they are clean.
• Start pumps to transfer products between storage tanks and transportation units.
• Attach hoses to vehicles.
• Match tank car, barge, or truckload numbers to written or verbal instructions.
• Test containers for leaks, damage, and defects. Repair or replace defective parts.
• Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, or trucks.
• Check the content, temperature, and volume of loads by reading meters.
• Attach information about loads onto tanks.
• Clean interiors of tank cars or trucks, using mechanical spray nozzles.
• Keep records of the types and amounts of products pumped. May record gauge readings and operating time.
• Take and test samples. May send samples to labs for testing.
• Operate blenders and heaters to mix and heat products.
• May repair vessels if necessary.

People in this career perform the following list of tasks, but the tasks are common to many occupations.

• Get information needed to do the job.
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings.
• Perform activities that use the whole body.
• Handle and move objects.
• Identify objects, actions, and events.
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials.
• Evaluate information against standards.
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates.
• Process information.
• Control machines and processes.
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work.
• Document and record information.
• Schedule work and activities.
• Teach others.
• Establish and maintain relationships.
• Use computers.
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed.
• Make decisions and solve problems.
• Perform administrative tasks.
• Update and use job-related knowledge.

Working Conditions

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

Interpersonal Relationships

• Are responsible for the health and safety of coworkers.
• Have a medium level of social contact.
• Talk to others by telephone and in person. They also use e-mail, but less frequently.
• May on occasion be placed in conflict situations.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by coworkers.
• Almost always work as part of a team.

Physical Work Conditions

• Wear safety and protective gear on a daily basis.
• Almost always work outdoors. Occasionally work indoors.
• Are regularly exposed to loud sounds and distracting noise levels.
• Are regularly exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures, depending on the weather.
• Are often exposed to contaminants.
• Are regularly exposed to hazardous equipment, situations, and conditions.
• Often have to reach high places to perform the job.
• Often work in very bright or dim lighting.
• May have to get into awkward positions to reach cramped work places.

Work Performance

• Must fully complete and be exact in their work. Errors could result in injuries to themselves or coworkers.
• Must keep pace with the speed of equipment or machinery.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Often make decisions that affect coworkers and others. They usually don't consult a supervisor before deciding how to pack materials.
• Set most of their daily tasks and goals without talking to a supervisor first.
• Must meet strict daily deadlines.

Hours/Travel

• Usually work 40 hours per week.
• May work overtime.

Physical Demands

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

People in this career frequently:

• Use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Walk around tanks and vehicles. May run during emergencies.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for people in this career to be able to:

• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• See details of objects whether they are nearby or far away.
• Use fingers or hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for people in this career to be able to:

• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• See objects in very bright or very low light.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Education & Training

Preparation

To work as a tank car, truck, or ship loader, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or GED; and
• complete short-term on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required beyond high school.

Work experience

Any experience operating equipment safely can help you get a trainee position.

On-the-job training

Tank car, truck, and ship loaders learn their skills on the job. You begin as an assistant and help set-up, dismantle, and service equipment. As you gain experience, you work on more difficult tasks.

Training lasts from several days to a month, depending on the type of materials you work with.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be petroleum supply specialists or cargo specialists. Training lasts two to eight weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Fields of Study (What to study to prepare for this career)

Click on any of the Fields of Study listed below to find out more about preparing for this career.

• Heavy Equipment Operations

Helpful High School Courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include:

• Driver Education
• Physical Education

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Skills

People in this career need to:

Communicate

• Read and understand written information.
• Listen to others, understand, and ask questions.
• Express ideas clearly when speaking or writing.

Reason and Problem Solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Develop rules or follow guidelines for arranging items.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.

Manage Oneself, People, Time and Things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.

Work with People

• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with Things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Operate and control equipment.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.
• Maintain equipment on a routine basis. Determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Perceive and Visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Knowledge

People in this career need knowledge in the following areas:

• Production and Processing: Knowledge of how products are made and supplied.
• Mechanical: Knowledge of designing, using, and repairing machines and tools.
• Administration and Management: Knowledge of managing the operations of a business, company, or group.
• Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of protecting people, data, and property.
• Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of providing special services to customers based on their needs.
• Transportation: Knowledge of ways to move people, goods, or materials. This may be by air, rail, sea, or road.

Interests

People in this career are people who tend to:

• Consider support from their employer important. They like to be treated fairly and have supervisors who will back them up. They prefer jobs where they are trained well.
• Consider independence important. They like to make decisions and try out ideas on their own. They prefer jobs where they can plan their work with little supervision.
• Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
• Have realistic interests. They like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like to work with plants, animals, and physical materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. They often prefer to work outside.
• Have conventional interests. They like work activities that follow set procedures, routines, and standards. They like to work with data and detail. They prefer working where there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Licensing / Certification

Certification Details

No certifications are found for this career.

Licensing Details

No State of Minnesota license requirements are found for this career.

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and CareerOneStop.

Jobs

Find Jobs

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Hiring Practices

Most employers require loaders to have at least a high school diploma or GED. Employers prefer applicants who have mechanical aptitude. They look for applicants who have experience repairing cars or machinery.

Advancement Opportunities

Tank car, truck, and ship loaders advance by working with more dangerous liquids. They usually receive additional training before working with chemicals and other hazardous materials.

Job Title Examples

Bulk Tank Car Unloader,  Chemical Recovery Operator,  PVC Loader (Polyvinyl Chloride Loader),  Pumper,  Shipper,  Shipping and Receiving Operator,  Warehouse Man,  Load Out Person,  Loader Operator,  Loader 

Similar Careers

Below are careers similar to Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders you may be interested in reading about. If you are looking to broaden your job search, these careers require similar skills. Click on the names to link to their career profile.

Chemical Equipment Operators
Chemical Plant Operators
Freight Handlers
Gas and Oil Plant Operators
Hazardous Material Workers
Metal and Plastic Processing Workers
Pump Operators
Rock Splitters
Welders and Solderers

Similar Military Careers

Below are similar military careers you may be interested in reading about. Click on the names to link to their career description.

Petroleum Supply Specialists

Related Industries

Below are industries related to Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders you may be interested in reading about. Employers in these industries typically hire Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders. Click on the names to link to their industry profile.

Chemicals, Drugs, And Chemical Products
Mining And Quarrying
Rail Transportation
Stone, Clay, And Glass Products
Transportation Support And Warehousing
Truck Transportation
Water Transportation
Wholesale Trade

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.