TransportationO*NET: 53-7121.00
Will AI Replace 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.
88out of 100
Critical Risk
AI Risk Score
88/100
Risk Level
Critical
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
9
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions.
- ▸Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures.
- ▸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.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Providing empathy and emotional support
- ▸Creative problem-solving in ambiguous contexts
- ▸Physical tasks requiring fine motor skills and dexterity
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (4)
- Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions.
- Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures.
- 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.
⚡AI-Assisted (5)
- Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, and trucks.
- 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.
- Operate ship loading and unloading equipment, conveyors, hoists, and other specialized material handling equipment such as railroad tank car unloading equipment.
- 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.
Key Skills Analysis
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.00/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Quality Control AnalysisAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Management of Personnel ResourcesAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Related Occupations
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
84/100 — Critical Risk
Conveyor Operators and Tenders
87/100 — Critical Risk
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
83/100 — Critical Risk
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
88/100 — Critical Risk
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
69/100 — High Risk
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders have a critical risk of AI replacement with a score of 88/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research