What Do Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks

Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory. Duties include verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material and arranging for the transportation of products. May prepare items for shipment.

Salary
$37210
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth
Low

Personality



Job Description

Job Description

Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments. Prepare items for shipment. Duties include assembling, addressing, stamping, and shipping merchandise or material; receiving, unpacking, verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material; and arranging for the transportation of products. They also examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.

Other tasks include:

  • Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.
  • Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.
  • Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.
  • Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.
  • Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
  • Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins.

We asked Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

55%

How meaningful is this job

32%


55% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 32% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins. They determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials to be shipped.

A typical day for a Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerk will also include:

  • Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
  • Compare shipping routes or methods to determine which have the least environmental impact.
  • Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.
  • Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
  • Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.

We asked some Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 66% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 58% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 81% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 43% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 19% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 54% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks also compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list. They may also contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock. They might also Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.

In addition, they Determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials to be shipped.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.

To some Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks, it is also their responsibility to Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.


Working life

Working hours

Standard 40 hour work week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerk, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Do Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks work in an office-style work environment?

Never
55%


Every day
27%


Do Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks work outdoors?

Once a year
39%


Never
33%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Organizers and The Builders

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks

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Related to Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks Job Description

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Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/office-and-administrative-support/material-recording-clerks.htm
http://www.mhi.org/
http://www.werc.org/


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