What You Need to Know About Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk
Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk Job Description Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments. Prepare items for shipment. Duties include assembling, addressing, stamping, and shipping merchandise or material; receiving, unpacking, verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material; and arranging for the transportation of products.
Life As a Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk
- Determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials to be shipped.
- Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.
- Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.
- Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
- Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
- Compare shipping routes or methods to determine which have the least environmental impact.
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What Every Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks say are important on the job.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Related Job Titles
- Freight Breaker
- Truckload Checker
- Return to Vendor (RTV)
- Shipping Assistant
- Garment Sorter
Job Outlook for Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks
There were about 681,400 jobs for Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk. There will be an estimated 67,200 positions for Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk per year.

The states with the most job growth for Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk are Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, New Mexico, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk
The typical yearly salary for Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks is somewhere between $22,900 and $50,380.

Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $32,930 |
Alaska | $43,540 |
Arizona | $34,230 |
Arkansas | $33,090 |
California | $36,320 |
Colorado | $34,990 |
Connecticut | $37,900 |
Delaware | $31,330 |
District of Columbia | $49,550 |
Florida | $32,660 |
Georgia | $33,830 |
Hawaii | $39,160 |
Idaho | $33,700 |
Illinois | $35,950 |
Indiana | $33,480 |
Iowa | $35,980 |
Kansas | $33,960 |
Kentucky | $34,870 |
Louisiana | $33,660 |
Maine | $34,590 |
Maryland | $36,420 |
Massachusetts | $39,840 |
Michigan | $35,110 |
Minnesota | $37,500 |
Mississippi | $30,130 |
Missouri | $34,700 |
Montana | $33,920 |
Nebraska | $34,740 |
Nevada | $35,720 |
New Hampshire | $34,280 |
New Jersey | $36,480 |
New Mexico | $32,360 |
New York | $37,480 |
North Carolina | $32,930 |
North Dakota | $35,870 |
Ohio | $34,020 |
Oklahoma | $33,790 |
Oregon | $36,220 |
Pennsylvania | $35,670 |
Rhode Island | $38,000 |
South Carolina | $34,240 |
South Dakota | $33,140 |
Tennessee | $32,530 |
Texas | $32,750 |
Utah | $32,250 |
Vermont | $34,320 |
Virginia | $35,070 |
Washington | $40,120 |
West Virginia | $36,030 |
Wisconsin | $36,840 |
Wyoming | $34,770 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- SAP
- IBM Notes
- FileMaker Pro
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- Inventory tracking software
- Microsoft Dynamics GP
- Sage 50 Accounting
- Citrix
- Warehouse management system WMS
- Aestiva Purchase Order
- Bill of lading software
- Exact MAX
- ADi SmartBOL
- DM2 Bills of Lading Software
- FedEx Ship Manager
How to Become a Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk
Individuals working as a Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Career changers with experience as a Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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