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 specialize.
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 may 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; they obtain merchandise from the stockroom and wrap it or pack 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. They also may 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. After recording this information, they connect the scanner or reader to a personal computer and transfer the data to the appropriate department. They 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.
Receiving clerks monitor the quantity and condition of incoming goods.
Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks held about 824,000 jobs in 1992. Nearly two-thirds were employed by wholesale 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.
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, many vacancies are created by normal career progression.
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.
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Reprinted with Permission of U. S. Department of Labor