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Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $58,870 Median per year · $28.30/hr Most earn $39,460–$83,160

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Monitor product movement to and from storage tanks, coordinating activities with other workers to ensure constant product flow.
  • Test vessels for leaks, damage, and defects, and repair or replace defective parts as necessary.
  • Remove and replace tank car dome caps, or direct other workers in their removal and replacement.
  • 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.
  • Copy and attach load specifications to loaded tanks.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 1,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Support activities for rail transportation18.1%
  • Self-employed (their own business)14.8%
  • Support activities for water transportation14.2%
  • Farm product raw material merchant wholesalers5.9%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods5.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

This is an entry-level job. A high school diploma is the usual starting point, and most people get some hands-on work experience first, typically about 6 months to 1 year, before they load tank cars, trucks, or ships on their own.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish school with solid math, science, and reading skills, since loading work involves measuring, reading labels and gauges, and following safety rules.

  2. Warehouse Associate

    6 months to 1 year

    Work on a loading dock or in a warehouse moving freight and materials by hand or with equipment. This builds the habit of safe lifting, teamwork, and following procedures that bulk loading requires.

  3. Tank Truck Loader

    Ongoing

    Load and unload chemicals and bulk solids such as grain, sand, or coal into tank cars, trucks, or ships using material moving equipment, and check tanks for leaks and sample contents.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Loader

    2-4 years of experience first

    Take charge of a small crew, show newer workers how to load safely, and keep track of paperwork and shipment records. Strong safety habits and reliability are what usually lead to this role.

  2. Terminal Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    Oversee a loading area or shift, schedule crews and equipment, and make sure every shipment meets safety and quality rules. Moving up here usually means proving you can manage people as well as do the work.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take chemistry and mathChemistry helps you understand the materials you would handle, and math helps with measuring, gauging, and recording quantities.
  • Take shop or a vocational classHands-on classes like welding, auto shop, or small engines teach you how equipment works and how to use tools safely.
  • Get a part-time jobA job at a grocery store, grain elevator, farm, or warehouse, if you are old enough, gives you early work experience and a feel for physical labor.
  • Take a workplace safety course if your school offers oneSafety training shows employers you already understand hazards and how to avoid them.
  • Get a driver's licenseMany loading jobs involve moving between trucks, yards, and terminals, so a valid license can help you qualify for more roles.

In college

  • Take chemistry, physical science, or logistics coursesThese classes build the knowledge of materials and shipping rules that help you handle bulk chemicals and products safely.
  • Work a campus job at a loading dock, mailroom, or storage facilityA school job that involves moving and tracking materials gives you hands-on experience you can list on a résumé.
  • Get forklift or material-handling certificationMany employers want operators who already hold equipment training, and it can be earned in a short course.
  • Join a logistics, supply chain, or engineering clubClubs teach teamwork and how shipping and production work, and they can lead to networking contacts.
  • Seek a summer internship at a distribution center, port, or chemical plantAn internship shows how bulk loading works in a real facility and gives you a chance to learn the safety culture firsthand.

Tips for getting started

  • Get comfortable with safety rules early. Employers in this field value workers who follow lockout steps, wear protective gear, and speak up about hazards.
  • Look for jobs that let you operate equipment, such as a forklift or pump. Experience with machines helps you move into loading work faster.
  • Ask a current loader what the job is really like day to day, including shift hours and outdoor work, so you know if it fits you.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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