What You'll Do

  • Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions.
  • Observe positions of cars passing loading spouts, and swing spouts into the correct positions at the appropriate times.
  • Operate ship loading and unloading equipment, conveyors, hoists, and other specialized material handling equipment such as railroad tank car unloading equipment.
  • Monitor product movement to and from storage tanks, coordinating activities with other workers to ensure constant product flow.
  • Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, gauge readings, and operating times, manually or using computers.
  • Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures.
  • 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.
  • Connect ground cables to carry off static electricity when unloading tanker cars.
  • Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, and trucks.
  • Test samples for specific gravity, using hydrometers, or send samples to laboratories for testing.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.75/5
Operation and Control 3.75/5
Reading Comprehension 3.25/5
Time Management 3.12/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Writing 3.0/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.0/5
Coordination 2.88/5
Quality Control Analysis 2.88/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Cooperation, Integrity, Adaptability/Flexibility

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Control Precision 3.88/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.88/5
Manual Dexterity 3.75/5
Rate Control 3.75/5
Far Vision 3.75/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.62/5
Perceptual Speed 3.62/5
Reaction Time 3.62/5

Technologies & Tools

CompuWeigh GMS Distributed control system DCS Linux Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software SAP software Warehouse management system WMS

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.48/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.37/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.14/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 3.95/5)
  • Adaptability/Flexibility (High importance: 3.94/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Barge Loader Barges Loader Bulk Tank Car Unloader Car Loader Car Unloader Caustics Loader Coal Dumping Equipment Operator Dock Loader Load Out Person Loader Loader Operator Loading Operator Oil Movements Operator Pumper Gauger PVC Loader (Polyvinyl Chloride Loader) PVC Monitor (Polyvinyl Chloride Monitor) Rail Car Loader Rail Loader Receiving Operator Ship Unloader Shipping and Receiving Operator Shipping Loader Ships Loader Spout Tender Tank Car Loader Tank Truck Loader Tankerman Truck Loader Truck Unloader Unloader Warehouse Loader Warehouse Truck Loader Warehouse Unloader