Traffic, Shipping, and Receiving Clerks

Nature of the Work
Employment
Job Outlook
Related Occupations
Sources of Additional Information

(D.O.T. 209.367-042; 214.587-014; 219.367-022 and -030; 221.367-022; 222.367-066, .387-014, -022, -050, and -054, .485, .567-010 and -014, .587-018, -034, and -058, .687-022 and -030; 248.362-010, .367-014 and -022; 919.687-010; and 976.687-018)

• 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 and the level of automation employed. Larger companies typically are better able to finance the purchase of computers and other equipment to handle some or all of a clerk's responsibilities. In smaller companies, an individual clerk may be responsible for maintaining records, preparing shipments, and accepting deliveries.
  
  Traffic clerks maintain records on the destination, weight, and charges on all incoming and outgoing freight. They verify rate charges by comparing the classification of materials with rate charts. In many companies, this work may be automated. Information either is scanned, or is hand-entered into a computer for use by accounting or other departments within the company. Also, they 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. Also, they record items taken from inventory and note when orders were filled. Sometimes they fill the order themselves, obtaining merchandise from the stockroom, noting when inventories run low, 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. Shipping clerks also may prepare invoices and furnish information about shipments to other parts 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.
  
  Receiving clerks perform tasks similar to those of shipping clerks. They determine whether orders have been filled correctly by verifying incoming shipments against the original order and the accompanying bill of lading or invoice. They make a record of the shipment and the condition of its contents. In many firms, receiving clerks record the information by using hand-held scanners to read bar codes on incoming products or by hand-entering this information into computers. These data then can be transferred to the appropriate departments. 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 may also arrange for adjustments with shippers whenever merchandise is lost or damaged. Receiving clerks in small businesses also may perform some stock clerk duties. In larger establishments, receiving clerks may control all receiving-platform operations, such as truck scheduling, recording of shipments, and handling of damaged goods.

• Employment

  Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks held about 759,000 jobs in 1996. Nearly 7 out of 8 were employed in manufacturing or by wholesale or retail establishments. Although jobs for traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks are found throughout the country, most clerks work in urban areas, where shipping depots in 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 increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2006. 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 material 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 data storage and retrieval systems. Automation, coupled with the growing use of hand-held scanners and personal computers in shipping and receiving departments, has increased the productivity of these workers.
  
  Despite automation, job openings will continue to arise due to increasing economic and trade activity, and because certain tasks cannot be automated. For example, someone needs to check shipments before they go out and when they arrive to ensure 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, many vacancies are 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, 325 Seventh St. NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004. Homepage: http://www.nrf.com
  
  (Information on training and earnings is in the introduction to material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing occupations.)

Occupational Outlook Handbook Home Page

BLS Home Page