Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
Machines can already do 31% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 70%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 31% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 70% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 10,700 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $58,870 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 74% for contact with people.
- Also called: Load Out Person, Loader, Loader Operator, Loading Operator.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor product movement to and from storage tanks, coordinating activities with other workers to ensure constant product flow | 11% | 35% to 70% | |
| Start pumps and adjust valves or cables to regulate the flow of products to vessels, using knowledge of loading procedures | 10% | 30% to 75% | |
| Operate ship loading and unloading equipment, conveyors, hoists, and other specialized material handling equipment such as railroad tank car unloading equipment | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| 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 | 8% | 30% to 75% | |
| Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, gauge readings, and operating times, manually or using computers | 6% | 70% to 95% | |
| Unload cars containing liquids by connecting hoses to outlet plugs and pumping compressed air into cars to force liquids into storage tanks | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions | 5% | 70% to 95% | |
| Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills tank car, truck, and ship loaders use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers61% of tasks by 2035
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- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $38,760
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of tank car, truck, and ship loaders?
Machines can do 31% of the tasks of tank car, truck, and ship loaders today and 70% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 53-7121.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/tank-car-truck-and-ship-loaders/