Tank Car, Truck, & Ship Loaders
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.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, and trucks.
- Connect ground cables to carry off static electricity when unloading tanker cars.
- 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.
- Observe positions of cars passing loading spouts, and swing spouts into the correct positions at the appropriate times.
- Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures.
- Copy and attach load specifications to loaded tanks.
- Monitor product movement to and from storage tanks, coordinating activities with other workers to ensure constant product flow.
- Remove and replace tank car dome caps, or direct other workers in their removal and replacement.
- Operate ship loading and unloading equipment, conveyors, hoists, and other specialized material handling equipment such as railroad tank car unloading equipment.
- Test samples for specific gravity, using hydrometers, or send samples to laboratories for testing.
- Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, gauge readings, and operating times, manually or using computers.
- Test vessels for leaks, damage, and defects, and repair or replace defective parts as necessary.
- 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.
- Unload cars containing liquids by connecting hoses to outlet plugs and pumping compressed air into cars to force liquids into storage tanks.
- Clean interiors of tank cars or tank trucks, using mechanical spray nozzles.
- Lower gauge rods into tanks or read meters to verify contents, temperatures, and volumes of liquid loads.
- Operate conveyors and equipment to transfer grain or other materials from transportation vehicles.
- Perform general warehouse activities, such as opening containers and crates, filling warehouse orders, assisting in taking inventory, and weighing and checking materials.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
99%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
96%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
94%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
94%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
93%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
91%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
91%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
90%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
90%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
88%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
87%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
87%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
87%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
86%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
85%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
85%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
83%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
82%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
81%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
81%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
80%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
80%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
79%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
77%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
74%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
73%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
73%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
72%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
70%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
68%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
67%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
67%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
66%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
65%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
64%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
62%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
62%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
54%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
52%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
51%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
49%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
49%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
49%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
48%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
48%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
46%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
44%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
41%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
40%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
37%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
28%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
27%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
22%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
15%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
8%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
6%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
3%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than high school diploma
Post-secondary certificate
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Work Styles
Work Values
Resources for Tank Car, Truck, & Ship Loaders
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