What is a Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk?
Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk Definition 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: What Do They Do?
- Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.
- Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.
- Compare shipping routes or methods to determine which have the least environmental impact.
- Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins.
- Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
- Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.
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Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk Needed Skills
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.
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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Warehouseman
- Non-Food Receiving Clerk
- Shipping-Order Clerk
- Switching Clerk
- Shipping Packer
What Kind of Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 681,400 jobs for Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 67,200 job openings in this field each 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.
Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk Salary
Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks make between $22,900 and $50,380 a year.

Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks 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 |
What Tools & Technology do Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks Use?
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
- Exact MAX
- Aestiva Purchase Order
- Bill of lading software
- DM2 Bills of Lading Software
- Electronic Data Interchange EDI systems
- ADi SmartBOL
How to Become a Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk
What education is needed to be a Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk?

What work experience do I need to become a Shipping, Receiving, or Traffic Clerk?

Who Employs Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks?

Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks work in the following industries:

You May Also 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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