Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
Also called: Loader, Loader Operator, Tankerman, Truck LoaderLoad 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 4 of its 19 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 2.8% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 4.3% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other material moving workers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 9.0 hires for every 10 job openings in transportation, warehousing, and utilities, which employs about 59% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.9.0 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $75,450 | $70,060 to $93,600 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $33,800 | $28,600 to $38,630 | 150 |
| California | $68,600 | $60,330 to $92,390 | 110 |
| Colorado | $51,200 | $46,230 to $61,020 | 80 |
| Florida | $45,540 | $41,550 to $63,810 | 430 |
| Georgia | $51,160 | $44,930 to $58,460 | 50 |
| Hawaii | $45,240 | $44,320 to $94,310 | not published |
| Idaho | $41,700 | $36,150 to $49,340 | 80 |
| Indiana | $44,310 | $41,890 to $53,610 | 250 |
| Iowa | $51,450 | $45,840 to $57,820 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $53,160 | $38,670 to $88,940 | 130 |
| Louisiana | $58,900 | $55,620 to $62,560 | 500 |
| Maryland | $81,320 | $48,690 to $97,260 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $71,750 | $59,440 to $77,010 | 140 |
| Michigan | $57,900 | $54,120 to $60,440 | 200 |
| Minnesota | $76,620 | $52,320 to $84,440 | not published |
| Mississippi | not published | not published | 320 |
| Missouri | $57,750 | $44,120 to $62,670 | 180 |
| Montana | $80,070 | $76,860 to $83,390 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $46,300 | $41,700 to $46,320 | not published |
| New Hampshire | $70,030 | $61,510 to $79,560 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $64,890 | $58,370 to $67,370 | 120 |
| New Mexico | $48,010 | $46,430 to $51,840 | 80 |
| New York | $48,220 | $42,700 to $54,210 | 110 |
| North Carolina | $44,910 | $41,710 to $48,560 | 240 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | $55,070 to $63,650 | 310 |
| Ohio | $57,700 | $47,770 to $78,790 | 820 |
| Oklahoma | $35,360 | $33,870 to $43,680 | 170 |
| Oregon | $74,040 | $56,290 to $76,780 | not published |
| Pennsylvania | $48,120 | $33,560 to $74,310 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $80,700 | $54,540 to $80,700 | 90 |
| Texas | $61,170 | $51,470 to $79,340 | 1,620 |
| Utah | $53,370 | $51,100 to $53,370 | not published |
| Virginia | $41,190 | $37,740 to $62,710 | 60 |
| West Virginia | $54,750 | $52,120 to $54,750 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $57,250 | $50,610 to $63,870 | 170 |
Nationally: $58,870. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 4 of its 19 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions. | Not published |
| AI + software | Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, gauge readings, and operating times, manually or using computers. | Not published |
| Not much | Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures. | Not published |
| Not much | Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, and trucks. | Not published |
| AI + software | Monitor product movement to and from storage tanks, coordinating activities with other workers to ensure constant product flow. | Not published |
| Not much | Start pumps and adjust valves or cables to regulate the flow of products to vessels, using knowledge of loading procedures. | Not published |
See all 19 tasks
| Not much | Observe positions of cars passing loading spouts, and swing spouts into the correct positions at the appropriate times. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate ship loading and unloading equipment, conveyors, hoists, and other specialized material handling equipment such as railroad tank car unloading equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Test samples for specific gravity, using hydrometers, or send samples to laboratories for testing. | Not published |
| Not much | Test vessels for leaks, damage, and defects, and repair or replace defective parts as necessary. | Not published |
| Not much | Remove and replace tank car dome caps, or direct other workers in their removal and replacement. | Not published |
| AI + software | Copy and attach load specifications to loaded tanks. | Not published |
| Not much | Unload cars containing liquids by connecting hoses to outlet plugs and pumping compressed air into cars to force liquids into storage tanks. | Not published |
| Not much | Lower gauge rods into tanks or read meters to verify contents, temperatures, and volumes of liquid loads. | Not published |
| Not much | Connect ground cables to carry off static electricity when unloading tanker cars. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate conveyors and equipment to transfer grain or other materials from transportation vehicles. | Not published |
| Not much | Clean interiors of tank cars or tank trucks, using mechanical spray nozzles. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform general warehouse activities, such as opening containers and crates, filling warehouse orders, assisting in taking inventory, and weighing and checking materials. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 19 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 19 tasks fall under 20 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools | |||
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Test characteristics of materials or products | |||
| Position tools or equipment |
Show all 20 activities
| Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas | |||
| Mark materials or objects for identification | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Inspect facilities or equipment | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Maintain vehicles in working condition | |||
| Monitor resources or inventories | |||
| Operate transportation equipment or vehicles | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Operate pumping systems or equipment | |||
| Operate industrial processing or production equipment | |||
| Operate lifting or moving equipment |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for tank car, truck, and ship loaders specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 1,744 moves out
- 1 Conservation Scientists High +5.3% 12%
- 2 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 6%
- 3 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 5%
- 5 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Low +1.5% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 1,086 moves in
- 1 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 8%
- 2 Cashiers High -6.5% 6%
- 3 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 4 Stockers and Order Fillers Moderate +8.9% 5%
- 5 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 12% less than high school
- 81% high school
- 4% postsecondary certificate
- 1% some college
- 2% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 27 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 13% less than high school
- 56% high school
- 19% some college
- 6% associate's
- 4% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other material moving workers” · 719 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other material moving workers”
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (PUMPER-GAUGER). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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