Career Explorer Transport and logistics
Human edge, steady
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.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 90% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by +2.8% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on physical dexterity and ethical judgement.
AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.
- Median pay (2025)
- $58,870
- Job growth to 2035
- +2.8%
- Openings a year
- 1,300
- People doing it (2025)
- 12,800
- Usual route in
- No formal credential, then short on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools
- Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
- Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Assemble equipment or components
- Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance
- Inspect facilities or equipment
What the work looks like
- Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, and trucks.
- Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions.
- Connect ground cables to carry off static electricity when unloading tanker cars.
- Start pumps and adjust valves or cables to regulate the flow of products to vessels, using knowledge of loading procedures.
- Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Crane and tower operatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 93, +3.8%
- Solar photovoltaic installersHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +36.5%
- Automotive and watercraft service attendantsHuman edge, growing, Index 92, +3.8%
- Tree trimmers and prunersHuman edge, growing, Index 98, +4.2%
Also known as: Loader, Loader Operator, Tankerman, Truck Loader, Load Out Person, Loading Operator, Oil Movements Operator, PVC Loader (Polyvinyl Chloride Loader).
Is this career on your child's list?
Build a free Career Playbook matched to your child, or get a 90-day Action Plan with dated next steps, written for your child by name.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.