Tank Car / Truck / Ship Loader

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Load Out Person; Loader; Loader Operator; Loading Operator; Oil Movements Operator; PVC Loader (Polyvinyl Chloride Loader); Rail Car Loader; Tank Car Loader; Tankerman; Truck Loader

Tasks

• 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.

Knowledge

• Transportation
• Production and Processing
• English Language
• Public Safety and Security

Skills

• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Control Precision
• Multilimb Coordination
• Manual Dexterity
• Rate Control
• Far Vision
• Problem Sensitivity
• Perceptual Speed
• Reaction Time
• Static Strength
• Depth Perception
• Near Vision
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Selective Attention
• Finger Dexterity
• Trunk Strength
• Stamina
• Extent Flexibility
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Information Ordering
• Flexibility of Closure
• Visualization
• Time Sharing
• Gross Body Equilibrium
• Hearing Sensitivity
• Auditory Attention