Why is the body of an oil tanker connected with a metal wire at the ground?

As fuel is pumped from the tanker car to a reservoir, charge can quickly build up as the fluid flows through the hoses. This static charge can create sparks capable of igniting the fuel. By connecting the body of the tanker car to the ground, the static charge can be transferred to the ground. A metal wire is used since metals are conductive and allow charge to flow through them.