Traffic, Shipping, and Receiving Clerks

• Nature of the Work

  Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks keep records of all goods shipped and received. Their duties depend on the size of the establishment. In a small company, one clerk may be responsible for accepting deliveries, preparing shipments, and maintaining records. In a large company, the responsibilities are usually divided among several clerks who have specialized duties.

  Traffic clerks maintain records on the destination, weight, and charges on all incoming and outgoing freight. They sometimes enter this information into a computer to be used by the accounting and other departments within the firm. They make sure that the rate charges are accurate by comparing the classification of materials with rate charts. They also keep a file of claims for overcharges and for damage to goods in transit.

  Shipping clerks are record keepers responsible for all outgoing shipments. They prepare shipping documents and mailing labels, and make sure orders have been filled correctly. They also record items taken from inventory and note when orders were filled. Sometimes they fill the order themselves; obtaining merchandise from the stockroom and wrapping it or packing it in shipping containers. They also address and label packages, look up and compute freight or postal rates, and record the weight and cost of each shipment. Sometimes they prepare invoices and furnish information about shipments to another part of the company, such as the accounting department. Once a shipment is checked and ready to go, shipping clerks may move the goods from the plant-sometimes by forklift truck-to the shipping dock and direct its loading.

  When shipments arrive, receiving clerks perform tasks similar to those of shipping clerks. They determine whether their employer's orders have been correctly filled by verifying incoming shipments against the original order and the accompanying bill of lading or invoice. They record the shipment and the condition of its contents. In many firms, receiving clerks record the information by using hand-held scanners to read the bar codes on incoming products. They then connect the scanner or reader to a personal computer and transfer the data to the appropriate department. Depending on the computer system used, this information is then compared with the information transferred from a similar type of scanner used by the truck driver. The shipment is checked for any discrepancies in quantity, price, and discounts. Receiving clerks may route or move shipments to the proper department, warehouse section, or stockroom. They also arrange for adjustments with shippers whenever merchandise is lost or damaged. Shipping and receiving clerks in small businesses may also perform some stock clerk duties.

• Employment

  Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks held about 798,000 jobs in 1994. Nearly 3 out of every 4 were employed by wholesale or retail establishments, or manufacturing firms. Although jobs for traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks are found throughout the country, most clerks work in urban areas, where factories and wholesale establishments generally are located. Many traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks work for the U.S. Postal Service. For information on these workers, see the statement on postal clerks and mail carriers, elsewhere in the Handbook.

• Job Outlook

  Employment of traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks is expected to change or grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Employment growth will continue to be affected by automation, as all but the smallest firms move to hold down labor costs by using computers to store and retrieve shipping and receiving records.

  Methods of materials handling have changed significantly in recent years. Large warehouses are increasingly automated, using equipment such as computerized conveyor systems, robots, computer-directed trucks, and automatic storage and retrieval systems. Automation, coupled with the growing use of hand-held scanners and personal computers in receiving departments has increased the productivity of these workers.

  Despite automation, job openings will arise due to increasing economic activity and because certain functions cannot be automated. For example, someone needs to check shipments before they go out and when they arrive to ensure that everything is in order. However, most job openings will occur because of the need to replace traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks who leave the occupation. Because this is an entry level occupation, vacancies are also created by normal career progression.

• Related Occupations

  Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks record, check, and often store the materials that a company receives. They also process and pack goods for shipment. Other workers who perform similar duties are stock clerks, material clerks, distributing clerks, routing clerks, express clerks, expediters, and order fillers.

• Sources of Additional Information

  General information about traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks can be obtained by contacting:
  National Retail Federation, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20004-2608.

  (Information on training and earnings is in the introduction to material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing occupations.)

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