# Tank Car, Truck, and 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tank-car-truck-and-ship-loaders
- SOC code: 53-7121.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $58,870 (10th percentile $39,460, 90th percentile $83,160)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.8%
- Openings a year: 1,300
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 99 |
| Investigative (I) | 16 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 5 |
| Conventional (C) | 63 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 91/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 89/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Processing Information (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 82/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 81/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 79/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 79/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 78/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking, Writing

## Knowledge

Transportation, Production and Processing, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Mechanical, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Administrative, Chemistry, Customer and Personal Service

## Also called

Barge Loader, Barges Loader, Bulk Tank Car Unloader, Car Loader, Car Unloader, Caustics Loader, Coal Dumping Equipment Operator, Dock Loader, Load Out Person, Loader

## Related careers

- [Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-truck-and-tractor-operators): $46,420 median pay
- [Conveyor Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conveyor-operators-and-tenders): $42,420 median pay
- [Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/laborers-and-freight-stock-and-material-movers-hand): $40,240 median pay
- [Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pump-operators-except-wellhead-pumpers): $61,770 median pay
- [Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loading-and-moving-machine-operators-underground-mining): $74,500 median pay
- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.