Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $58,870/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +4.3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 1,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders?
The median pay for Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders is $58,870 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders?
Employment for Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders is projected to change +4.3% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders?
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
How many job openings are there each year for Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders?
About 1,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.