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Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

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.

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This source lists 19 tasks, including 9 marked Core and 10 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2019.

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19 tasks shown

Core · Task 12800 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, and trucks.

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Core · Task 12792 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions.

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Core · Task 12809 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Start pumps and adjust valves or cables to regulate the flow of products to vessels, using knowledge of loading procedures.

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Core · Task 12797 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures.

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Core · Task 12793 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Observe positions of cars passing loading spouts, and swing spouts into the correct positions at the appropriate times.

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Core · Task 12795 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Monitor product movement to and from storage tanks, coordinating activities with other workers to ensure constant product flow.

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Core · Task 12794 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Operate ship loading and unloading equipment, conveyors, hoists, and other specialized material handling equipment such as railroad tank car unloading equipment.

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Core · Task 12796 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, gauge readings, and operating times, manually or using computers.

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Core · Task 12798 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

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.

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Supplemental · Task 12799 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Connect ground cables to carry off static electricity when unloading tanker cars.

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Supplemental · Task 12808 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Copy and attach load specifications to loaded tanks.

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Supplemental · Task 12802 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Remove and replace tank car dome caps, or direct other workers in their removal and replacement.

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Supplemental · Task 12801 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Test samples for specific gravity, using hydrometers, or send samples to laboratories for testing.

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Supplemental · Task 12806 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Test vessels for leaks, damage, and defects, and repair or replace defective parts as necessary.

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Supplemental · Task 12807 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Unload cars containing liquids by connecting hoses to outlet plugs and pumping compressed air into cars to force liquids into storage tanks.

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Supplemental · Task 12804 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Clean interiors of tank cars or tank trucks, using mechanical spray nozzles.

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Supplemental · Task 12803 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Lower gauge rods into tanks or read meters to verify contents, temperatures, and volumes of liquid loads.

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Supplemental · Task 12805 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Operate conveyors and equipment to transfer grain or other materials from transportation vehicles.

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Supplemental · Task 12810 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Perform general warehouse activities, such as opening containers and crates, filling warehouse orders, assisting in taking inventory, and weighing and checking materials.

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Make the shortlist useful

Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

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