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A shipping and receiving clerk prepares products for incoming and outgoing shipping and keeps careful records of all shipping data after verifying its contents. They also arrange for product transportation. Those in this career field may also be called the shipping coordinator, warehouseman, and receiving manager.
Watch a video to learn what a shipping and receiving clerk does:
How to Become a Shipping and Receiving Clerk
Typically, a shipping and receiving clerk holds a high school diploma and some experience in a related field. An experienced employee generally trains a new clerk and that on-the-job training lasts anywhere from a few months to one year. Sometimes, recognized apprenticeship programs may be offered in this career field. Employers often look for individuals with critical thinking skills and can communicate effectively as these individuals must recognize problems and communicate the issues to others.
According to O*NET OnLine, 80% of the shipping and receiving clerks surveyed reported holding a high school diploma while 10% reported earning less than a high school diploma. Very few reported having earned a certification after high school.
Job Description of a Shipping and Receiving Clerk
A shipping and receiving clerk must usually inspect the contents of merchandise before it is shipped and ensure the order matches the items and the address appropriately. Next, they may prepare documents before the shipment, such as shipping orders or bills of lading to route materials. They may then have the job of packing, sealing, and labeling the merchandise for distribution. Just like they inspect the merchandise before it is shipped, they also inspect inbound merchandise and may record information about the item such as it’s weight and if there is any damage.
Shipping and Receiving Clerk Video Transcript
To keep businesses on schedule, and the movement of supplies flowing, material recording clerks ensure proper scheduling, record-keeping, and inventory control. There are several types of material recording clerks: Stock clerks and order fillers unpack shipments and track merchandise leaving the stockroom. They usually work in retail settings and sometimes help customers. Stock clerks move products from a warehouse to store shelves, while order fillers retrieve customer orders and prepare them to be shipped. Because they lift heavy materials and bend often, stock clerks and order fillers have one of the highest injury and illness rates of all occupations.
Production and expediting clerks manage the flow of information, work, and materials within a business. They set workers’ schedules, estimate costs, and keep track of materials as well as production problems in manufacturing plants. Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks keep track of outgoing and incoming shipments. Clerks review shipment orders to ensure they were correctly processed, compute freight costs, and prepare invoices. They may move goods from a warehouse to the loading dock.
Material and product inspecting clerks weigh, measure, and document materials and equipment that enter a warehouse. They perform quality checks and determine how to handle defective products. While many material recording clerks work full time and may work nights, weekends, and holidays, part-time work is common for stock clerks and order fillers. Material recording clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and are trained on the job. Knowledge of spreadsheet or database software may be helpful.
Article Citations
National Center for O*NET Development. 43-5071.00. O*NET OnLine. This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. RethinkOldSchool, Inc. has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
The career video is in the public domain from the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.