Shipping and Receiving Clerk
A Shipping and Receiving Clerk plays a crucial role in the logistics and distribution sectors, handling the essential tasks of processing incoming and outgoing shipments. These clerks, sometimes referred to as shipping coordinators or traffic managers, are responsible for preparing packages for shipment, tracking shipments, inventorying received goods, and ensuring that all shipping documents and labels are accurate. The work typically takes place in warehouses, shipping facilities, and office environments, where clerks may be required to lift, walk, and bend frequently, emphasizing the physical nature of the job.
Individuals interested in this career should be detail-oriented, reliable, and possess good organizational skills. While a high school diploma is generally sufficient for entry, experience in related fields such as warehouse operations or customer service can be beneficial. Training is often provided on-the-job, with positions varying from full-time to seasonal, necessitating flexibility in working hours. With an average annual salary of $44,210, the shipping and receiving clerk role is vital to ensuring the smooth operation of supply chains, although employment opportunities in this field are expected to decline slightly. Overall, this occupation is suited for those who enjoy routine physical work and thrive in dynamic environments.
Shipping and Receiving Clerk
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Business, Management & Administration, Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales & Service, Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Interests: Transportation, distribution, warehouse operations, importing and exporting, customer service, business
Earnings (Yearly Average): $44,210 per year $21.26 per hour
Employment & Outlook: -4% (Decline)
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training One to six months
Overview
Sphere of Work. Shipping and receiving clerks, also known as shipping coordinators, receiving managers, or traffic managers, provide shipping and receiving support to their employers. They may perform various tasks, including readying packages for shipment, shipping packages, tracking incoming and outgoing shipments, receiving packages, inventorying receivables, and transporting materials and packages. Shipping and receiving clerks often work alongside and assist stock clerks and warehouse clerks.
Work Environment. Shipping and receiving clerks work in office settings, shipping facilities, and warehouses. Depending on the employer and particular job description, a shipping and receiving clerk may work as a full-time, part-time, seasonal, or shift worker. Shipping and receiving clerks generally work forty-hour weeks, but holiday, evening, and weekend work may be necessary during periods of increased business.
Occupation Interest. Individuals attracted to the shipping and receiving clerk occupation tend to be physically strong and detail-oriented. Individuals who excel as shipping and receiving clerks exhibit stamina, organization, dependability, and effective time management traits. Prospective shipping and receiving clerks should enjoy physical work and routines, thrive under pressure, and have a background in warehouse operations, import, export, or transport. Familiarity with computer technologies is also desirable.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Company size dramatically influences the daily occupational duties and responsibilities assigned to shipping and receiving clerks. In large companies, multiple people and departments perform shipping and receiving tasks, while in smaller companies, one person is usually responsible for all shipping and receiving. The level of automation in the shipping and receiving process varies significantly in different organizations and depends on the organization’s size and technological environment.
Shipping clerks are responsible for all the packages and shipments leaving the facility. Sometimes, shipping clerks may decide the shipping method, coordinate shipment schedules, assemble packaging materials, and pack goods for shipment. Outgoing shipments must be prepared with proper packages, shipping containers, mailing labels, tracking numbers, instructions, shipping documents, and order forms. Shipping clerks also calculate and negotiate shipping costs, track inventory, and resolve lost or late shipments. They manually record data about outgoing goods or enter data on handheld computers and scanners. Shipping clerks may also physically move outgoing shipments from the warehouse to the shipping terminal with a hand truck or forklift.
Receiving clerks accept shipments, unpack shipments, verify receipt of materials and the accuracy of orders, inspect the condition of goods and materials, place incoming goods in storage bins or on hand trucks, and file invoices. Receiving clerks either manually record data about incoming goods or enter data on handheld computers and scanners. Once a shipment has been received, receiving clerks are responsible for distributing the goods to the proper destination within the organization, which may be an office, warehouse, stockroom, or production line. They may notify shippers when incoming shipments are damaged, lost, or stolen. Receiving clerks may physically move incoming freight from the shipping terminal to the warehouse with a hand truck or forklift.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Shipping and receiving clerks work in offices, warehouses, mailrooms, and stockrooms. They may experience temperature extremes, and work settings may be cluttered. Shipping and receiving work is very physical and requires extensive walking, lifting, and bending. As a result, shipping and receiving clerks must follow safety precautions to avoid back strain and crush injuries.
Plant Environment. Shipping and receiving clerks working in plant or manufacturing environments provide shipping and receiving support to the business. Shipping and receiving clerks in a plant environment may experience physical risks from production fumes, noise, or plant accidents.
Human Environment. A shipping and receiving clerk’s human environment may be social or isolated. Depending on their work assignments and the extent of automation within the organization, shipping and receiving clerks may interact with colleagues such as stock clerks and traffic clerks, customers, shippers, and supervisors. Experienced shipping and receiving clerks may oversee the work of less experienced clerks or other warehouse employees.
Technological Environment. Shipping and receiving clerks use adding machines, fax machines, photocopiers, telephones, scales, and postal machines to complete their work. In more automated settings, they also use barcode machines and readers, radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanners, sorting systems, robots, computers, Internet communication tools, databases, and software designed for labels, purchase orders, character recognition, word processing, and spreadsheets. Depending on the facility, they may also need to operate forklifts, hand trucks, conveyors, or vehicles to move shipments.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing a career as a shipping and receiving clerk should prepare by building good study habits and studying English, business, computer science, and bookkeeping. Part-time or seasonal work with local businesses may also benefit high school students interested in this career path. High school students can work as shipping and receiving clerks directly after graduation.
Postsecondary. Formal postsecondary study is not required to become a shipping and receiving clerk. Vocational marketing or business training may benefit prospective shipping and receiving clerks. As the shipping industry is becoming more automated, additional training in computer technology is also advantageous. Those who obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree may advance more quickly to related managerial positions. Young adults can gain work experience and potential advantage in future job searches through part-time or seasonal employment in warehouse or mailroom settings.
Related Occupations
Bibliography
“Material Recording Clerks.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/material-recording-clerks.htm. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 43-5-71 Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes435071.htm. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.